Sung merrier than the cuckoo or the jay: Thus singing as he went, at last he drew, Full fairly perched among the boughs above. She stopped, and sighing: "Oh good gods! (she cried) 720 What pangs, what sudden shoots distend my side ? O for that tempting fruit, so fresh, so green; But could not climb, and had no servant nigh: die, 730 Yet view the lovely fruit before my eye? take; Then from your back I might ascend the tree; Do you but stoop, and leave the rest to me." 735 "With all my soul, (he thus replied again,) I'd spend my dearest blood to ease thy pain." With that, his back against the trunk he bent; She seized a twig, and up the tree she went. Now prove your patience, gentle ladies all ! Nor let on me your heavy anger fall: 'Tis truth I tell, though not in phrase refined; 741 Though blunt my tale, yet honest is my mind. 745 In that nice moment, lo! the wondering knight Looked out, and stood restored to sudden sight. But when he saw his bosom-wife so dressed, hair; "Death! Hell! and Furies! what dost thou do there ?" "What ails my lord? (the trembling dame replied,) I thought your patience had been better tried: 765 "If this be struggling, by this holy light, 'Tis struggling with a vengeance (quoth the knight). So Heaven preserve the sight it has restored, As with these eyes I plainly saw thee whored; Whored by my slave-perfidious wretch! may hell As surely seize thee, as I saw too well.' G 770 "Guard me, good angels! (cried the gentle May,) Pray Heaven this magic work the proper way Alas, my love! 'tis certain, could you see, ! You ne'er had used these killing words to me : So help me, Fates, as 'tis no perfect sight, 776 But some faint glimmering of a doubtful light." "What I have said (quoth he), I must maintain, For by the immortal powers it seemed too plain—” "By all those powers, some frenzy seized 780 your mind, (Replied the dame); are these the thanks I find? Wretch that I am, that e'er I was so kind!” And, as they fell, she wiped from either eye 785 appeared Signs of remorse, while thus his spouse he cheered: "Madam, 'tis past, and my short anger o'er! Come down, and vex your tender heart no more: 790 Excuse me, dear, if aught amiss was said; saw. 'Ah, my loved lord! 'twas much unkind (she cried,) On bare suspicion thus to treat your bride. But, till your sight's established, for a while, Imperfect objects may your sense beguile. 795 Thus when from sleep we first our eyes display, The balls are wounded with the piercing ray, 800 And dusky vapours rise, and intercept the day. So just recovering from the shades of night, Your swimming eyes are drunk with sudden light, Strange phantoms dance around, and skim before your sight. ; "Then, sir, be cautious, nor too rashly deem Heaven knows how seldom things are what they seem ! 806 Consult your reason, and you soon shall find amiss." 810 With that she leaped into her lord's embrace, With well-dissembled virtue in her face. He hugged her close, and kissed her o'er and o'er, Disturbed with doubts and jealousies no more: Both, pleased and blessed, renewed their mutual VOWS, A fruitful wife, and a believing spouse. 815 Thus ends our tale, whose moral next to make, Let all wise husbands hence example take; And pray, to crown the pleasure of their lives, To be so well deluded by their wives. 820 B THE WIFE OF BATH. HER PROLOGUE. FROM CHAUCER. EHOLD the woes of matrimonial life, And hear with reverence an experienced wife; To dear-bought wisdom give the credit due, 5 And think, for once, a woman tells you true. nice, No pious Christian ought to marry twice. II But let them read, and solve me, if they can, The words addressed to the Samaritan : Five times in lawful wedlock she was joined ; And sure the certain stint was ne'er defined. 16 "Increase and multiply," was Heaven's command, And that's a text I clearly understand. leave, And to their dearer wives for ever cleave." I've had myself full many a merry fit; 20 25 |