Text Box: "Madam, say to your lord Arveragus
That since I see his great graciousness
To you, and also I see well your distress,
That he would rather have shame (and that would be a pity)
Than you should thus break your pledged word to me,
I would well rather suffer woe always
Than I should break apart the love between you two.
I release you, madam, into your hand I return
Freely every pledge and every bond
That you have made to me before now,
Since that time when you were born.
I pledge my word, I shall never reprove you 
For any promise, and here I take my leave,
Of the truest and the best wife
That ever yet I knew in all my life.
But let every wife beware of her promise!
Remember Dorigen, at the least.
Thus can a squire do a gentle deed
As well as can a knight, without doubt."
She thanks him upon her bare knees,
And home unto her husband she is gone,
And told him all, as you have heard me say;
And be you sure, he was so well pleased
That it would be impossible for me to write.
Why should I write longer about this matter?
 


 "Madame, seyth to youre lord Arveragus
That sith I se his grete gentillesse
To yow, and eek I se wel youre distresse,
That him were levere han shame (and that were routhe)
Than ye to me sholde breke thus youre trouthe,
I have wel levere evere to suffre wo
Than I departe the love bitwix yow two.
I yow relesse, madame, into youre hond
Quyt every serement and every bond
That ye han maad to me as heerbiforn,
Sith thilke tyme which that ye were born.
My trouthe I plighte, I shal yow never repreve
Of no biheste, and heere I take my leve,
As of the treweste and the beste wyf
That evere yet I knew in al my lyf.
But every wyf be war of hire biheeste!
On Dorigen remembreth, atte leeste.
Thus kan a squier doon a gentil dede
As wel as kan a knyght, withouten drede."
She thonketh hym upon hir knees al bare,
And hoom unto hir housbonde is she fare,
And tolde hym al, as ye han herd me sayd;
And be ye siker, he was so weel apayd
That it were impossible me to wryte.
What sholde I lenger of this cas endyte?
                   

 

Nextà

ßback