My Master Bukton, when of Christ our King <br />Was asked, What is truth or soothfastness? <br />He not a word answer'd to that asking, <br />As who saith, no man is all true, I guess; <br />And therefore, though I highte to express <br />The sorrow and woe that is in marriage, <br />I dare not write of it no wickedness, <br />Lest I myself fall eft in such dotage. <br /> <br />I will not say how that it is the chain <br />Of Satanas, on which he gnaweth ever; <br />But I dare say, were he out of his pain, <br />As by his will he would be bounden never. <br />But thilke doated fool that eft had lever <br />Y-chained be, than out of prison creep, <br />God let him never from his woe dissever, <br />Nor no man him bewaile though he weep! <br /> <br />But yet, lest thou do worse, take a wife; <br />Bet is to wed than burn in worse wise; <br />But thou shalt have sorrow on thy flesh thy life, <br />And be thy wife's thrall, as say these wise. <br />And if that Holy Writ may not suffice, <br />Experience shall thee teache, so may hap, <br />That thee were lever to be taken in Frise, <br />Than eft to fall of wedding in the trap. <br /> <br />This little writ, proverbes, or figure, <br />I sende you; take keep of it, I read! <br />"Unwise is he that can no weal endure; <br />If thou be sicker, put thee not in dread." <br />The Wife of Bath I pray you that you read, <br />Of this mattere which that we have on hand. <br />God grante you your life freely to lead <br />In freedom, for full hard is to be bond.<br /><br />Geoffrey Chaucer<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/l-envoy-of-chaucer-to-bukton/
