The Wife of Bath's Tale
Folio 106v
11 of 12 folios
Than drede ȝou nougħt to ben a cokewolde
For filþe and helþe al so mote I þe
Ben grete wardeyns vpon chastite
1190
But naþeles syn I knowe ȝoure delyt
I schal fulfille your worldly appetyt
Chees now quod sche on of þese þinges tweye /
To han me foule and olde til þat I deye
And be to ȝow a trewe humble wijf
1195
And neuere ȝow displese in aƚƚ my lijf
Or elles ȝe wol haue me ȝong and fair
And take ȝour auenture of þe repair
That schal come to your hous by cause of me
Or in som oþer place wel may be
1200
Now chees ȝour seluen / wheþer þat ȝou likeþ
Þis knight auysed him and sore sikeþ
But atte laste he seyde in þis manere
My lady and my loue and wijf so deere
I putte me in ȝoure wise gouernaūce
1205
Cheseþ ȝour self which may be most plesance
And most honour to yow and me also
I do no force þe wheþer of þe tuo
For as ȝou likeþ it sufficeþ me
Þanne haue I gote of ȝou maystrie qd sche /
1210
Syn I may cheese and gouerne as me list
Ȝe certes wijf qd he I holde it for best
Kisse me quod sche we be no lenger wroþe /
For by my trouþe I wol be to yow boþe /
Þis is to sein / to be boþe fair and good
1215
I pray to god þat I mote steruen wood
But I to ȝou be also sad and trewe /
As euer was wijf syn þat þe world was newe
And but I be to morwe as fair to seene
As eny lady emperice or queene /
1220
Þat is bitwen þe est and eek þe weste /
Do wiþ my lijf and deþ rigħt as ȝou leste /
Cast vp þe curteyne loke how it is