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|
Narrator
As I com bi an waie,
Hof on ich herde saie,
Ful modi mon and proud;
Wis he wes of lore,
And gouthlich under gore,
And clothed in fair sroud.
To lovien he bigon
On wedded wimmon,
Therof he hevede wrong;
His herte hire wes alon,
That reste nevede he non,
The love wes so strong.
Wel yerne he him bithoute
Hou he hire gete moute
In ani cunnes wise.
That befel on an day
The louerd wend away
Hon his marchaundise.
He wente him to then inne
Ther hoe wonede inne,
That wes riche won;
And com in to then halle,
Ther hoe wes srud with palle,
And thus he bigon:-
Wilekin
"God Almightten be herinne!"
Margery
"Welcome, so ich ever bide wenne,"
Quod this wif.
"His hit thi wille, com and site,
And wat is thi wille let me wite,
Mi leve lif.
Bi houre Louerd, hevene king,
If I mai don ani thing
That thee is lef,
Thou mightt finden me ful fre.
Fol bletheli will I don for thee,
Withhouten gref."
Wilekin
"Dame, God thee foryelde,
Bote on that thou me nout bimelde,
Ne make thee wroth,
Min hernde will I to thee bede;
Bote wraththen thee for ani dede
Were me loth."
Margery
"Nai, iwis, Wilekin,
For nothing that ever is min,
Thau thou hit yirne,
Houncurteis ne will I be;
Ne con I nout on vilte,
Ne nout I nelle lerne.
"Thou mait saien al thine wille,
And I shal herknen and sitten stille,
That thou have told.
And if that thou me tellest skil,
I shal don after thi wil,
That be thou bold.
"And thau thou saie me ani same,
Ne shal I thee nought blame
For thi sawe.
"Nou ich have wonne leve,
Yif that I me shulde greve,
Hit were hounlawe."
Wilekin
"Certes, dame, thou seist as hende,
And I shal setten spel on ende,
And tellen thee al,
Wat ich wolde, and wi ich com;
Ne con ich saien non falsdom,
Ne non I ne shal.
"Ich habbe i-loved thee moni yer,
Thau ich nabbe nout ben her
Mi love to schowe.
Wile thi louerd is in toune,
Ne mai no mon with thee holden roune
With no thewe.
"Yurstendai ich herde saie,
As ich wende bi the waie,
Of oure sire;
Me told me that he was gon
To the feire of Botolfston
In Lincolneschire.
"And for ich weste that he wes houte,
Tharfore ich am i-gon aboute
To speken with thee.
Him burth to liken wel his lif,
That mightte welde secc a wif
In privité.
"Dame, if hit is thi wille,
Both dernelike and stille,
Ich wille thee love."
Margery
"That wold I don for nothing,
Bi houre Louerd, hevene king,
That ous is bove!
"Ich habe mi louerd that is mi spouse,
That maiden broute me to house
Mid menske inou;
He loveth me and ich him wel,
Oure love is also trewe as stel,
Withhouten wou.
"Thau he be from hom on his hernde,
Ich were ounseli, if ich lernede
To ben on hore,
That ne shal nevere be
That I shal don selk falseté,
On bedde ne on flore,
"Nevermore his lif-wile,
Thau he were on hondred mile
Biyende Rome,
For nothing ne shuld I take
Mon on erthe to ben mi make,
Ar his hom come."
Wilekin
"Dame, dame, torn thi mod:
Thi curteisi was ever god,
And yet shal be;
For the Louerd that ous haveth wrout
Amend thi mod, and torn thi thout,
And rew on me."
Margery
"We, we! Oldest thou me a fol?
So ich ever mote biden Yol,
Thou art ounwis,
Mi thout ne schalt thou never wende;
Mi louerd is curteis mon and hende,
And mon of pris;
"And ich am wif bothe god and trewe;
Trewer womon ne mai no mon cnowe
Then ich am.
Thilke time ne shal never bitide
That mon for wouing ne thoru prude
Shal do me scham."
Wilekin
"Swete lemmon, merci!
Same ne vilani
Ne bede I thee non;
Bote derne love I thee bede,
As mon that wolde of love spede,
And finde won."
Margery
"So bide ich evere mete other drinke,
Her thou lesest al thi swinke;
Thou might gon hom, leve brother,
For ne wille ich thee love, ne non other,
Bote mi wedde houssebonde;
To tellen hit thee ne wille ich wonde."
[Wilekin]
"Certes, dame, that me forthinketh
An wo is the mon tha muchel swinketh,
And at the laste leseth his sped!
To maken menis his him ned.
Bi me I saie ful iwis,
That love the love that I shal mis.
An, dame, have nou godnedai!
And thilke Louerd, that al welde mai,
Leve that thi thout so tourne,
That ich for thee no leng ne mourne."
Narrator
Drerimod he wente awai,
And thoute bothe night and dai
Hire al for to wende.
A frend him radde for to fare,
And leven al his muchele kare
To Dame Sirith the hende.
Thider he wente him anon,
So suithe so he mightte gon,
No mon he ni mette.
Ful he wes of tene and treie;
Mid wordes milde and eke sleie
Faire he hire grette.
Wilekin
"God thee i-blessi, Dame Sirith!
Ich am i-com to speken thee with,
For ful muchele nede.
And ich mai have help of thee
Thou shalt have, that thou shalt se,
Ful riche mede."
Dame Sirith
"Welcomen art thou, leve sone;
And if ich mai other cone
In eni wise for thee do,
I shal strengthen me therto.
Forthi, leve sone, tel thou me
Wat thou woldest I dude for thee."
Wilekin
"Bote, leve nelde, ful evele I fare;
I lede mi lif with tene and kare;
With muchel hounsele ich lede mi lif,
And that is for on swete wif
That heightte Margeri.
Ich have i-loved hire moni dai,
And of hire love hoe seith me nai;
Hider ich com forthi.
"Bote if hoe wende hire mod,
For serewe mon ich wakese wod,
Other miselve quelle.
Ich hevede i-thout miself to slo;
For then radde a frend me go
To thee mi serewe telle.
"He saide me, withhouten faille,
That thou me couthest helpe and vaile,
And bringen me of wo
Thoru thine crafftes and thine dedes;
And ich wile geve thee riche mede,
With that hit be so."
Dame Sirith
"Benedicité! Be herinne
Her havest thou, sone, mikel senne.
Louerd, for His swete nome,
Lete thee therfore haven no shome!
Thou servest affter Godes grome,
Wen thou seist on me silk blame.
For ich am old, and sek and lame;
Seknesse haveth maked me ful tame.
Blesse thee, blesse thee, leve knave!
Leste thou mesaventer have,
For this lesing that is founden
Oppon me that am harde i-bonden.
Ich am on holi wimon,
On wicchecrafft nout I ne con,
Bote with gode men almesdede.
Ilke dai mi lif I fede,
And bidde mi Pater Noster and mi Crede,
That Goed hem helpe at hore nede,
That helpen me mi lif to lede,
And leve that hem mote wel spede.
His lif and his soule worthe i-shend,
That thee to me this hernde haveth send;
And leve me to ben i-wreken
On him this shome me haveth speken."
Wilekin
"Leve nelde, bilef al this;
Me thinketh that thou art onwis.
The mon that me to thee taute,
He weste that thou hous couthest saute.
Help, Dame Sirith, if thou maut,
To make me with the sweting saut,
And ich wille geve thee gift ful stark,
Moni a pound and moni a marke,
Warme pilche and warme shon,
With that min hernde be wel don.
Of muchel godlec might thou yelpe,
If hit be so that thou me helpe."
Dame Sirith
"Ligh me nout, Wilekin, bi thi leute
Is hit thin hernest thou tellest me?
Lovest thou wel Dame Margeri?"
[Wilekin]
"Ye, nelde, witerli.
Ich hire love; hit mot me spille,
Bote ich gete hire to mi wille."
Dame Sirith
"Wat, god Wilekin, me reweth thi scathe,
Houre Louerd sende thee help rathe!
"Weste hic hit mightte ben forholen,
Me wolde thunche wel folen
Thi wille for to fullen.
Make me siker with word on honde,
That thou wolt helen, and I wile fonde
If ich mai hire tellen.
For al the world ne wold I nout
That ich were to chapitre i-brout
For none selke werkes.
Mi jugement were sone i-given
To ben with shome somer driven
With prestes and with clarkes."
Wilekin
"Iwis, nelde, ne wold I
That thou hevedest vilani
Ne shame for mi goed.
Her I thee mi trouthe plightte,
Ich shal helen bi mi mightte,
Bi the Holi Roed!"
Dame Sirith
"Welcome, Wilekin, hiderward;
Her havest I maked a foreward
That thee mai ful wel like.
Thou maight blesse thilke sith,
For thou maight make the ful blith;
Dar thou namore sike.
"To goder hele ever come thou hider,
For sone will I gange thider,
And maken hire hounderstonde.
I shal kenne hire sulke a lore;
That hoe shal lovien thee mikel more
Then ani mon in londe."
Wilekin
"Al so havi Godes grith,
Wel havest thou said, Dame Sirith,
And Goder-hele shal ben thin.
Have her twenti shiling,
This ich geve thee to meding,
To buggen thee sep and swin."
Dame Sirith
"So ich ever brouke hous other flet,
Neren never pones beter biset
Then thes shulen ben.
For I shal don a juperti,
And a ferli maistri,
That thou shalt ful wel sen.
[Dame Sirith, speaking to her dog]
"Pepir nou shalt thou eten,
This mustart shal ben thi mete,
And gar thin eien to rene;
I shal make a lesing
Of thin heie renning,
Ich wot wel wer and wenne."
[Wilekin]
"Wat! Nou const thou no god?
Me thinketh that thou art wod:
Gevest thou the welpe mustard?"
Dame Sirith
"Be stille, boinard!
I shal mit this ilke gin
Gar hire love to ben al thin.
Ne shal ich never have reste ne ro
Til ich have told hou thou shalt do.
Abid me her til min hom come."
[Wilekin]
"Yus, bi the somer blome,
Hethen null I ben binomen,
Til thou be agein comen."
[Narrator]
Dame Sirith bigon to go,
As a wrecche that is wo,
That hoe com hire to then inne
Ther this gode wif wes inne.
Tho hoe to the dore com,
Swithe reuliche hoe bigon:
[Dame Sirith]
"Louerd," hoe seith, "wo is holde wives,
That in poverté ledeth ay lives;
Not no mon so muchel of pine
As poure wif that falleth in ansine.
That mai ilke mon bi me wite
For mai I nouther gange ne site.
Ded wold I ben ful fain.
Hounger and thurst me haveth nei slain;
Ich ne mai mine limes on wold,
For mikel hounger and thurst and cold.
War-to liveth selke a wrecche?
Wi nul God mi soule fecche?"
[Margery]
"Seli wif, God thee hounbinde!
Todai wille I thee mete finde
For love of God.
Ich have reuthe of thi wo,
For evele i-clothed I se thee go,
And evele i-shoed.
Com herin, ich wile thee fede."
[Dame Sirith]
"God Almightten do thee mede,
And the Louerd that wes on Rode i-don,
And faste fourti daiis to non,
And hevene and erthe haveth to welde."
[Margery]
"As thilke Louerd thee foryelde,
Have her fles and eke bred,
And make thee glad, hit is mi red;
And have her the coppe with the drinke;
God do thee mede for thi swinke."
[Narrator]
Thenne spac that holde wif,
Crist awarie hire lif:
Dame Sirith
"Alas! Alas! that ever I live!
Al the sunne ich wolde forgive
The mon that smite of min heved!
Ich wolde mi lif me were bireved!"
Margery
"Seli wif, what eilleth thee?"
[Dame Sirith]
"Bote ethe mai I sori be:
Ich hevede a douter feir and fre,
Feiror ne mightte no mon se.
Hoe hevede a curteis hossebonde;
Freour mon mightte no mon fonde.
Mi douter lovede him al to wel;
Forthi mak I sori del.
Oppon a dai he was out wend,
And thar-thoru wes mi douter shend.
He hede on ernde out of toune;
And com a modi clarc with croune,
To mi douter his love beed,
And hoe nolde nout folewe his red.
He ne mightte his wille have,
For nothing he mightte crave.
Thenne bigon the clerc to wiche,
And shop mi douter til a biche.
This is mi douter that ich of speke;
For del of hire min herte breketh.
Lok hou hire heien greten,
On hire cheken the teres meten.
"Forthi, dame, were hit no wonder,
Thau min herte burste assunder.
And woseever is yong houssewif,
Ha loveth ful luitel hire lif,
And eni clerc of love hire bede,
Bote hoe grante and lete him spede."
[Margery]
"A! Louerd Crist, wat mai thenne do!
This enderdai com a clarc me to,
And bed me love on his manere,
And ich him nolde nout i-here.
Ich trouwe he wolle me forsape.
Hou troustu, nelde, ich moue ascape?"
[Dame Sirith]
"God Almightten be thin help
That thou ne be nouther bicche ne welp!
Leve dame, if eni clerc
Bedeth thee that love werc,
Ich rede that thou grante his bone,
And bicom his lefmon sone.
And if that thou so ne dost,
A worse red thou ounderfost."
[Margery]
"Louerd Crist, that me is wo,
That the clarc me hede fro,
Ar he me hevede biwonne.
Me were levere then ani fe
That he hevede enes leien bi me,
And efftsones bigunne.
"Evermore, nelde, ich wille be thin,
With that thou feche me Willekin,
The clarc of wam I telle,
Giftes will I geve thee
That thou maight ever the betere be,
Bi Godes houne belle!"
[Dame Sirith]
"Sothliche, mi swete dame,
And if I mai withhoute blame,
Fain ich wille fonde;
And if ich mai with him mete,
Bi eni wei other bi strete,
Nout ne will I wonde.
Have goddai, dame! Forth will I go."
[Margery]
"Allegate loke that thou do so
As ich thee bad;
Bote that thou me Wilekin bringe,
Ne mai I never lawe ne singe,
Ne be glad."
[Dame Sirith]
"Iwis, dame, if I mai,
Ich wille bringen him yet todai,
Bi mine mightte."
[Narrator]
Hoe wente hire to hire inne,
Ther hoe founde Wilekinne,
Bi houre Drightte!
[Dame Sirith]
"Swete Wilekin, be thou nout dred,
For of thin hernde ich have wel sped.
Swithe com forth thider with me,
For hoe haveth send affter thee.
Iwis nou maight thou ben above,
For thou havest grantise of hire love."
[Wilekin]
"God the foryelde, leve nelde,
That hevene and erthe haveth to welde!"
[Narrator]
This modi mon bigon to gon
With Sirith to his levemon
In thilke stounde.
Dame Sirith bigon to telle,
And swor bi Godes ouene belle,
Hoe hevede him founde.
[Dame Sirith]
"Dame, so have ich Wilekin sout,
For nou have ich him i-brout."
[Margery]
"Welcome, Wilekin, swete thing,
Thou art welcomore then the king.
Wilekin the swete,
Mi love I thee bihete,
To don al thine wille.
Turnd ich have mi thout,
For I ne wolde nout
That thou thee shuldest spille."
[Wilekin]
"Dame, so ich evere bide noen,
And ich am redi and i-boen
To don al that thou saie.
[to Dame Sirith]
Nelde, par ma fai!
Thou most gange awai,
Wile ich and hoe shulen plaie."
[Dame Sirith]
"Goddot so I wille:
And loke that thou hire tille,
And strek out hir thes.
God geve thee muchel kare,
Yeif that thou hire spare,
The wile thou mid here bes.
"And wose is onwis,
And for non pris
Ne con geten his levemon,
I shal, for mi mede,
Garen him to spede,
For ful wel I con."
|
came; way; (see note)
Of one
spirited
Wise; learning
worthy; garments
shroud
At love
did mischief
was hers alone; (see note)
had he not any
longingly he calculated (thought to himself)
How; her might get
any way possible
one
lord went
On business
took himself
Where she lived
richly decorated dwelling
Where she was dressed; rich fabrics
he began
feel joy
Said
[If] it is your will (desire); sit
what; know
dear
By our Lord
is dear to you
cooperative
Full willingly will I do; (see note)
hesitation
reward you
do not denounce me
Nor; angry
errand will I tell
anger; any reason
to me displeasing
No, indeed; (see note)
Though you yearn for it; (see note)
Uncourteous will I never
Nor do I know anything of bad manners
Nor will I learn anything
may speak
listen
speak reasonably (put it the right way)
do according to
Of that you may be sure
even though; speak to me of any shameful matter
Despite whatever you say
Now [that]; given permission
myself should be upset
unlawful
Truly; speak pleasantly (courteously)
come to the point
want; why I came
no falsehood
Nor shall I [say] none
have
Though I have not been [able] here
While; lord (husband)
have private conversation
Without courtesy
Yesterday
went
your husband
Someone
fair; Boston
knew; was gone
come here
He has reason
have (coerce) as a lover such
Privately
secretly; discretely
would I do; (see note)
our Lord
is above us
have my husband who
[as a] virgin
honor enough
true as steel
sorrow
Though; business trip
I would be unhappy
be a whore; (see note)
shall
such deceit
[Neither]; nor; floor
[in] his lifetime
a hundred
Beyond
I should not; (see note)
Someone; mate
Before; homecoming; (see note)
change your mind
courtesy; good
still
who has made us
Change your mind
have pity; (see note)
Whoa! Do you think me a fool
As sure as Christmas; (see note)
unwise
You will never change my mind
courteous man; noble
man of excellence
good; faithful
Truer; know
Than
That; come
wooing; through pride
shame
Sweet beloved, [have] mercy; (see note)
Shame nor crudity
Neither offer; none
But secret (discreet); offer
succeed
happiness; (see note)
As certainly as I eat or drink
Here; lose; labor (effort)
go home, dear; (see note)
I will not; (see note)
Except
not hesitate
I repent of that
And; who too much works
in the end loses his reward
find a measure (go-between); (see note)
truly
Who have loved the beloved whom; lose
And; now have a good day
the same Lord, who; rule
Grant
I; longer mourn for you
Sadly; (see note)
thought
turn (i.e., make her change her mind)
advised
leave (unburden); great woe
courteous; (see note)
Thither
As quickly as
No man whatsoever did he meet; (see note)
sorrow; grief
also sly
Becomingly he greeted her
God bless you
with you; (see note)
great need
If
reward
dear son; (see note)
may or can
myself for the task
tell me
What I can do for you
dear granny; poorly; (see note)
sorrow
grief
for [the sake of] one
Who is called
her many [a] day
she tells me no
Here; therefore
Unless she changes her mind
sorrow; I will go crazy
Or kill myself
had thought; to slay
a friend advised me
[to] tell my sorrow
told; doubt
could; avail
[out] of woe
crafts; conjurings
will give; reward
Provided that
Oh my
Here; great sin
name
shame
deserve God's anger
When; tell such wickedness to me
sick
Sickness; subdued
dear lad
misadventure
lie; visited
Upon; who; destitute
a holy woman
I know nothing; (see note)
Except by; almsdeeds (charity)
Each day; sustain
repeat; (see note)
them; in [their] hour of need
Who
pray God's speed for them
[May]; be confounded
business
avenged
shame; spoken
Dear grandmother
mistaken
i.e., who recommended you to me
thought; us could reconcile; (see note)
might
sweetheart [a] reconciliation
great
Many; mark
fur coat; shoes; (see note)
Provided that; business
much merit; boast
Do not lie to me; honesty
earnest intention
Yes, grandmother, surely
it will kill me
Unless; bend her
Know, good; pity; distress
Our; quickly
[If] I knew; utterly concealed
would think; suited
fulfill
certain; an oath
conceal; try
tell her
I would not
chapter (church court) brought
no such
shame [on a] mule; (see note)
By; by clerics
Truly, old woman, I would not
have [any] trouble
Nor; my good (sake)
Here; promise pledge
conceal [it] in every way I can
Cross
contract
this very time
joyous
You need sigh no more
better fortune
go
understand
teach her such a lesson
she; love you much
Than any man
peace
prosperity (God's health)
here
reward
buy yourself sheep; swine
As ever I have benefit of house or floor
Never were pence better used; (see note)
Than; shall be
carry out a cunning plan; (see note)
masterful trick
Pepper; eat; (see note)
mustard; food
make your eyes run
trick
eye-running (weeping)
know; where; when
can you do no good
crazy
Give you; whelp
fool; (see note)
with this very trick
Make; all yours
peace
what you
Wait for me here
Yes; summer bloom
Hence I will not be taken away
she; dwelling
Where
When she
Very pitifully
woe to old
ever lead [their]
No one knows; suffering
into decline; (see note)
each; know
walk nor sit down
Dead would I be; gladly
nearly
limbs control
Why; such
Why will not; fetch; (see note)
Good woman; unbind (help you)
Today; food
pity; sorrow
poorly dressed
poorly shod
give you reward
Cross hung
fasted; days until the ninth hour (3 p.m.); (see note)
rule
redeemed
here meat; also bread
yourself comfortable; counsel
here; cup
reward you; efforts
old woman
damn
was born
sin
[Of] the man; cut off; head
wish; were bereft from me
Good woman; ails you
Yet easily
had; daughter; noble
Fairer might no man see
She had
More noble
too
make an unfortunate bargain
One; gone
thereby; shamed
went on errand
proud cleric; crown (tonsure)
offered
she would not; counsel
desire
use witchcraft
transformed; bitch
sorrow; breaks; (see note)
how her eyes weep
cheeks; tears flow together
Accordingly; it was
That
whosoever
She
If; offers
Unless she; succeed
other day
bid
would not hear [of it]
trust; transform
How do you think; can escape
bitch; whelp
Dear lady
Offers; work
advise; request
lover soon
you do not
counsel; [may] receive
woe is me
went from
Before; had won
rather than any money
once lain
soon afterward
will I; yours
Provided
cleric of whom I speak
own bell; (see note)
Certainly
try
or
hesitate
In any case
requested
Unless
laugh; (see note)
Certainly; [Margery]
She; dwelling
Where she
our Lord
afraid
business; succeeded
Quickly
she
Indeed now
been granted
reward, dear old woman
proud
lover
that time
speak
swore; own
She had found
sought
now
more welcome than
promise you
your bidding
Changed; mind
would not want
you should kill yourself
expect the ninth hour; (see note)
prepared
by my faith; (see note)
go
While; she
God knows
plow (till)
stretch; thighs
If
As long as you are with her
whosoever; unwise; (see note)
no price
can get
reward
Make; succeed
can
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