The Franklin's Tale
Folio 142r
20 of 24 folios
Wel rather than thei wold defouled be
I wol conclude that it is bet for me
715
To sleen my self than be defouled thus
I wol be trew vnto Arueragus
Or rather slee my self on sum manere
¶ As dede Demociens doughter dere
Bi cause that she wold not defouled be
720
¶ O codasus it is ful gret pitee
To rede how thi doughtren deide allas
That slow hemself for swich maner cas
¶ And gret pite was it or wel more
The theban mayden that for Nichanore
725
Hir seluen slow ryght for swich maner wo
A nother theban mayden dede ryght so
For oon of Macidoygne had hir opperssed
She wyth hir deth hir maydenhode redressed
¶ What shal I seyn of Nicerates wif
730
That for swich cas biraft hirself hir lif
¶ How trew ek was alcebiades
His loue that rather for to dien chees
Than for to suffren his body vnburied be
¶ÊLo swich a wif was Alcest quod she
735
What seith Omer of good penolepe
Al grece knoweth of hir chastite
¶ Pardee of laodomia is wryten thus
That whanne at Troye was slayn prothesalaus
No lenger wold she lyuen aftyr his day
740
The same of noble porcia telle I may
Wyth oute brutus koude she not lyue
To whom she had al hool hir hert yeue
¶ The parfyt wifhode and Archemesie
Honured is thurgh al the barbarye
745
¶ O theuta quene thi wifly chastitee
To al wyues may a mirrour be
¶ The same thing I seye of bilyea
Of Rodogone and ek Valeria
¶ Thus pleyned Dorigene a day or tweye
Purposyng euer that she wolde dye
¶ But nathales vpon the thrid nyght
750
Hom cam Arueragus this worthi knyght
And asked hir whi that she weep so sore
And she gan wepen euer lenger the more
Allas quod she that euer I was born
Thus haue I seide quod she thus haue I sworn
755
And told him al as ye han herd bifore
It nedeth nat reherce it yow no moore
This husbond wyth glad chere in frendly wise
Answerd and seyde as I shal yow deuyse
Is ther ought elles dorigene but this
760
¶ Nay nay quod she god helpe me so as wis
This is to moche and it were goddes wille
¶ Ye wif quod he lat vs slepen that is stille
It may be wel yit perauenture to day
Ye shul your trouth holden bi my fay
765
For god as wisly haue mercy vpon me
I had wel leuer y steked for to be
For verray loue which that I to yow haue
But yif ye wolde your trouth kepe and saue
Trouth is the hiest thing that man may kepe
770
And wyth that word he brast anon to wepe
And seide I yow forbede vp peyne of deth
That neuer while the lasteth lif or bretħ
To no wight telle thow this auenture
As I may best I wol my wo endure
775
Ne make no contenaunce of heuynesse
That folk of yow may demen harm or gesse
And forth he cleped a Squyer and a mayde
Goth forth anon wyth dorigen he saide
And bringeth hir in swich a place anon
780
Thei take hir leue and on hir wey thei goon
But thei ne wist whi she thider wente
He nold no wight telle his entente
Perauenture an heep of yow y wis
Wol holden him a lewde man in this
That he wol put his wif in Iupartie
Herkeneth the tale er ye vpon hir crie
She may haue bettre fortune than yow semeth