The Wife of Bath’s Tale from The Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer, translated by Nevill Coghill The Prologue The Pardoner started up, and thereupon and by St. John, “Madam,” he said, “by God That’s noble preaching no one could surpass! I was about to take a wife; alas! 5 Am I to buy it on my flesh so dear? no There’ll be marrying for me this year!” said, “You wait,” she “my story’s not begun. You’ll taste another brew before I’ve done; find it taste as good as ale; You’ll doesn’t 10 And when finished telling you my tale I’ve Of tribulation in the married life In which been an expert as a wife, I’ve That is to say, myself have been the whip. So please yourself whether you want to sip 15 At that same cask of marriage I shall broach. Be cautious before making the approach, and more than ten. For I’ll give instances, And be warned by other men, those who won’t By other men shall suffer their correction, 20 So Ptolemy has said, in this connection. You read his find it Almagest; you’ll there.” I put it to you as a “Madam, prayer,” The Pardoner said, on as you began! “go Tell us your tale, spare not for any man. 25 Instruct us younger men in your technique.” she said, you will let me speak, “Gladly,” “if But still I hope the company reprove me won’t Though I should speak as fantasy may move me, And please be offended at my views; don’t 30 to amuse. They’re really only offered The Tale When good King Arthur ruled in ancient days (A king that every Briton loves to praise) This was a land brim-full of fairy folk. The Elf-Queen and her courtiers joined and broke 35 Their elfin dance on many a green mead, Or so was the opinion once, I read,
The Wife of Bath’s Tale from The Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer, translated by Nevill Coghill The Prologue The Pardoner started up, and thereupon “Madam,” he said, “by God and by St. John, That’s noble preaching no one could surpass! I was about to take a wife; alas! 5 Am I to buy it on my flesh so dear? There’ll be no marrying for me this year!” “You wait,” she said, “my story’s not begun. You’ll taste another brew before I’ve done; You’ll find it doesn’t taste as good as ale; 10 And when I’ve finished telling you my tale Of tribulation in the married life In which I’ve been an expert as a wife, That is to say, myself have been the whip. So please yourself whether you want to sip 15 At that same cask of marriage I shall broach. Be cautious before making the approach, For I’ll give instances, and more than ten. And those who won’t be warned by other men, By other men shall suffer their correction, 20 So Ptolemy has said, in this connection. You read his Almagest; you’ll find it there.” “Madam, I put it to you as a prayer,” The Pardoner said, “go on as you began! Tell us your tale, spare not for any man. 25 Instruct us younger men in your technique.” “Gladly,” she said, “if you will let me speak, But still I hope the company won’t reprove me Though I should speak as fantasy may move me, And please don’t be offended at my views; 30 They’re really only offered to amuse. The Tale When good King Arthur ruled in ancient days (A king that every Briton loves to praise) This was a land brim-full of fairy folk. The Elf-Queen and her courtiers joined and broke 35 Their elfin dance on many a green mead, Or so was the opinion once, I read,
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