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The Norman Blake Editions of The Canterbury Tales
Here begynnyth the wyf of Bathe hire prologe
man called Melibeus myghty and riche , bygat vp on his wyf , that called was Prudence , a do- ughter , which that called was Sophie , vp on a day bifel , that he for his disport ,
As was þis Mellibeus wyf Prudence I hadde leuer þan a barel ale For sche nys no þing of such pacience That goode leef my wyf had herd þis tale Oure hoost sayde as I am feyþful man And By
youre wyf Is euery knyght of his , thus daungerous Is this the lawe , of kyng Arthures hous Fareth euery knyght thus with his wyf , as ye And seyde , o deere housbonde benedicite His olde wyf lay
liste lye Ne tak no wyf quod he , for housbondrye As for to spare , in houshold thy dispence A trewe seruant dooth moore diligence Thy good to kepe , than thyn owene wyf For she wol clayme ,
A wyf is kepere , of thyn husbondrye Wel may the Syke man , bywaylle and wepe There as nys no wyf , the hous to kepe I warne the , if wysely þè wolt werche Loue wel thy wyf
wyf is keper , of thyn housbondrye Wel may the sike man , biwaille wepe Ther as ther nys no wyf , the hous to kepe I warne thee , if wisely , thou wolt wirche Loue wel thy
And of Prudence , hire benygnetee Oure host seide , as I am a feithful man And by þt precious corpus , Madrian I had leuere , than a barel ale That goodleef my wyf , had herd this tale
pleynly speke I shal A wyf wol laste , and in thyn hous endure Wel lenger than thee list per auenture Mariage is , a ful greet sacrement He , which þt hath no wyf , I holde hym shent
Here bygynneþ Chauceres tale of Melibe and his wyf Prudence and his dought er Sapience A ȝong man whilom called Melibe mighty riche bigate vpon his wyf a doughter þat called was Prudence . a doughter which þat cleped was
on his wyf that called was Prudence , a doghter which that called was Sophie ,. Vp on a day bifel þt he , for his desport is went in to the feeldes hym to pleye , his wyf ,
wyf , is keper of thyn housbondrye Wel may the sike man , biwaille and wepe Ther as ther is no wyf , the hous to kepe I warne thee , if wisly thow wolt wirche Loue wel thy
To take a wyf , it is a glorious thyng And namely whan a man , is old and hore Than is a wyf , the fruyt of his tresore Than shuld he take , a ȝong wyf and a
if pleynly speke I shal A wyf wol last , and in thyn hous endure Wel lengere , than the list perauenture Mariage is , a ful gret sacrament He that hath no wyf , I holde h#299; shent He
ȝong wyf and a fair Be h#299; that made , water , Erthe , and Eyr The ȝongest man that is , in al this route Is besy I now , to bryngen it a boute To han his wyf
, his wyf loked so foule Gret was the woo , the knyght had in his thought Whan he was with his wyf , abedde I brought He walueth . and he turneth to and froo This olde wyf ,
god Is kyng To take a wyf it is aglorious thyng And nemely whā a man is old hore Thāne is a wyf the freut of his tresore Thāne schulde he take a ȝong wyf a fayr On whiche he
Hath but oon herte , in wele and in distresse A wyf , a Seinte Marie benedicitee How myghte a man , han any aduersitee That hath a wyf , certes , I kan nat seye The blisse , which
I yeeue my body , for alwey I warne yow wel , it is no childes pley To taken a wyf withouten auysement Men moste enquere , this is myn assent Wher she be wys and sobre , or dronkelewe
wille Thurgh eggyng of his wyf , hym for to pleye In his gardyn , and no wight but they tweye That in a morwe , vn to his May seith he Rys vp my wyf my loue , my