Text Box: Thus Dorigen complained a day or two, Intending ever that she would die. But neverthelees, upon the third night, Home came Arveragus, this worthy knight, And asked her why she wept so bitterly; And she began to weep, ever the longer (she wept) the more (she wept) . "Alas," said she, "that ever I was born! Thus have I said," said she, "thus have I sworn" -- And told him all as you have heard before; There is no need to repeat it to you any more. This husband, with cheerful demeanor, in a friendly manner Answered and said as I shall tell you: "Is there anything else, Dorigen, but this?" "Nay, nay," she said, "So help me God! This is too much, even if it were God's will." "Yes, wife," he said, "let sleep that which is still. It may be well, perhaps, yet to day. You shall keep your pledged word, by my faith! For as surely as God may have mercy upon me, I had well rather be stabbed For sheer love which I to have for you, Than you should (do anything but) keep and save your pledged word. One's pledged word is the highest thing that one may keep" -- But with that word he immediately burst into tears, And said, "I you forbid, upon pain of death, That never, while thy life or breath lasts, Thou tell any person about this adventure -- As I best can, I will my woe endure -- Nor make any outward appearance of sadness, That folk may believe or guess anything harmful concerning you." And forth he called a squire and a maid: "Go forth right now with Dorigen," he said, "And bring her to such a place quickly." They take their leave, and on their way they go, But they knew not why she thither went. He would no person tell his intention. Perhaps a heap of you, indeed, Will consider him a foolish man in this That he will put his wife in jeopardy. Listen to the tale before you cry out about her. She may have better fortune than it seems to you; And when you have heard the tale, judge. Thus pleyned Dorigen a day or tweye,
Purposynge evere that she wolde deye.
But nathelees, upon the thridde nyght,
Hoom cam Arveragus, this worthy knyght,
And asked hire why that she weep so soore;
And she gan wepen ever lenger the moore.
"Allas," quod she, "that evere was I born!
Thus have I seyd," quod she, "thus have I sworn" --
And toold hym al as ye han herd bifore;
It nedeth nat reherce it yow namoore.
This housbonde, with glad chiere, in freendly wyse
Answerde and seyde as I shal yow devyse:
"Is ther oght elles, Dorigen, but this?"
"Nay, nay," quod she, "God helpe me so as wys!
This is to muche, and it were Goddes wille."
"Ye, wyf," quod he, "lat slepen that is stille.
It may be wel, paraventure, yet to day.
Ye shul youre trouthe holden, by my fay!
For God so wisly have mercy upon me,
I hadde wel levere ystiked for to be
For verray love which that I to yow have,
But if ye sholde youre trouthe kepe and save.
Trouthe is the hyeste thyng that man may kepe" --
But with that word he brast anon to wepe,
And seyde, "I yow forbede, up peyne of deeth,
That nevere, whil thee lasteth lyf ne breeth,
To no wight telle thou of this aventure --
As I may best, I wol my wo endure --
Ne make no contenance of hevynesse,
That folk of yow may demen harm or gesse."
And forth he cleped a squier and a mayde:
"Gooth forth anon with Dorigen," he sayde,
"And bryngeth hire to swich a place anon."
They take hir leve, and on hir wey they gon,
But they ne wiste why she thider wente.
He nolde no wight tellen his entente.
Paraventure an heep of yow, ywis,
Wol holden hym a lewed man in this
That he wol putte his wyf in jupartie.
Herkneth the tale er ye upon hire crie.
She may have bettre fortune than yow semeth;
And whan that ye han herd the tale, demeth.


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