Prologue_WifeOfBath_Reinhard

//445:// A good wif was ther of biside bathe, //446:// But she was somdel deef, and that was scathe. //447:// Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt, //448:// She passed hem of ypres and of gaunt. //449:// In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon //450:// That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon; //451:// And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she, //452:// That she was out of alle charitee. //453:// Hir coverchiefs ful fyne weren of ground; //454:// I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound //455:// That on a sonday weren upon hir heed. //456:// Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed, //457:// Ful streite yteyd, and shoes ful moyste and newe. //458:// Boold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe. //459:// She was a worthy womman al hir lyve: //460:// Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve, //461:// Withouten oother compaignye in youthe, -- //462:// But therof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe. //463:// And thries hadde she been at jerusalem; //464:// She hadde passed many a straunge strem; //465:// At rome she hadde been, and at boloigne, //466:// In galice at seint-jame, and at coloigne. //467:// She koude muchel of wandrynge by the weye. //468:// Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye. //469:// Upon an amblere esily she sat, //470:// Ywympled wel, and on hir heed an hat //471:// As brood as is a bokeler or a targe; //472:// A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large, //473:// And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe. //474:// In felaweshipe wel koude she laughe and carpe. //475:// Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce, //476:// For she koude of that art the olde daunce.
 * Bath had a good wife,**
 * But she was somewhat deaf, which was a pity.**
 * She was skilled at cloth-making,**
 * She made cloths of press and of gaunt.**
 * In all the parish no one**
 * Gave offerings before her;**
 * And if someone did, she became very angry,**
 * She was deeply upset.**
 * Her very fine headdresses were of fine texture;**
 * I do swear they weighed ten pounds**
 * She wore them on Sunday**.
 * Her stockings were of fine scarlet red,**
 * Very tightly fastened, and shoes very supple and new.**
 * Her face was bold and fair, with a red hue.**
 * She was a worthy woman all her life:**
 * She was married in the church five times,**
 * Not counting other men from when she was young,--**
 * But they are nothing to speak of now.**
 * And she had been to Jerusalem three times;**
 * She had passed many strange currents;**
 * She had been to Rome and to Bologne,**
 * In Galice at Saint-James, and to Cologne.**
 * She knew how to wander.**
 * She was gap-toothed, to say truly.**
 * She easily rode a pacing horse,**
 * Wimpled well, with a hat on her head**
 * As broad as a small shield or a target;**
 * A foot-mantel around her large hips,**
 * And a pair of sharp spurrs on her feet.**
 * She knew how to laugh and live well with others**.
 * She knew remedies of love by chance,**
 * For she knew of the art of the old dance.

click here to view Wife of Bath Chaucer Space

Click here to view the Parson translation**