THE WIFE OF BATH. FROM CHAUCER. EHOLD the woes of matrimonial life, BEHOLD And hear with rev'rence an experienc'd wife! In * I have a curious book, entitled, A Commentary upon the Two Tales of our ancient, renowned, and ever-living Poet, Sir JEFFREY CHAUCER, Knight; who, for his rich fancy, pregnant invention, and prefent compofure, deferved the countenance of a Prince, and of his laureat honours: THE MILLER'S TALE; AND THE WIFE OF BATH. Printed by William Godbid, and to be fold by Peter Dring at the Sun, in the Poultry, near the Rofe tavern. 1665. The Author in the Dedication figns himself R. B.; and in the advertisement fays, "This comment was an affay whereto the author was importuned by perfons of quality, to compleat with brief, pithy, and proper illuftrations, fuitable to the subject !" It appears from it, that the character of Chaucer was not well understood by the age in which this book was written; as it appears the Comment was undertaken to point out the humourous and truly comic talent of our ancient bard, which was not at the time appreciated. A fhort fpecimen will fuffice: "Of In all these trials I have borne a part, I was myself the fcourge that caus'd the smart ; 86 "Of five husbands fcolynge am I Welcome the fixth whenever he shall dy. Whence "The thought is taken: all flesh is mortal; but of all flesh she "would have none more mortal than her husband's. She would ever "have her aged husband's look like Death's head; meantime her fage admonitions are never wanting to bid him remember his end. "Life is a trouble, but of all others fhe is moft troubled with his "life. Thus dictates fhe of her husband's pilgrimage; which by "how much the fhorter, it is for her all the better," &c. However trifling fuch things may appear, I mention them, to fhew the light in which Chaucer's character was held at the time; and I fhall add a few words from the Appendix, to fhew the Author's good fenfe. "Appendix to Comments. "After fuch time as the AUTOR, upon the inftancy of fundry perfons of quality, had finished his Comments upon thefe Two "TALES, the perufal of them begot that influence over the "clear and weighty judgements of the ftricteft and rigideft Cen"fors; as their high approvement of them induced their impor66 tunity to the AUTHOR to go on with the rest, as he had fuc"cefsfully done with thefe two firft: ingeniously protesting, "that they had not read any fubject difcourfing by way of IL"LUSTRATION, and running DESCANT, on fuch light, but "HARMLESS fancies, more handsomely couched, or modeftly “shadowed. All which, though urgently preffed, could make no "impreffion on the AUTHOR, for his definite anfwer was this "That his age, without any other appellant, might render his apology; and privilege him from COMMENTING on CONCEPTIONS, "being never fo pregnant, being interveined with levity; faying, "Of fuch light toys hee'd ta'n a long adieu." Whence fome infer, whofe confcience is too nice, But let them read, and folve me, if they can, And fure the certain ftint was ne'er defin'd. 15 "Encrease and multiply," was Heav'n's command, And that's a text I clearly understand. This too, "Let men their fires and mothers leave, And truft in Heav'n I may have many yet. Paul, knowing one could never ferve our turn, 20 Declar'd 'twas better far to wed than burn. There's danger in affembling fire and tow; I grant 'em that, and what it means you know. The fame Apoftle too has elfewhere own'd, 30 No precept for Virginity he found : 'Tis but a counfel-and we women ftill Take which we like, the counsel, or our will. 35 I envy not their bliss, if he or she Think fit to live in perfect chastity; Pure let them be, and free from taint or vice; I, for a few flight spots, am not so nice. Heav'n Heav'n calls us diff'rent ways, on these bestows Full many a Saint, fince first the world began, Let my good spouse pay tribute, do me right, 40 45 50 For fo faid Paul, and Paul's a found divine. 55 Know then, of those five husbands I have had, Three were just tolerable, two were bad. The three were old, but rich and fond befide, And toil'd most piteously to please their bride: Sure to be lov'd, I took no pains to please, They made their court, like Jupiter of old. 65 Ye Ye fov'reign wives! give ear, and understand, Thus fhall ye speak, and exercise command. For never was it giv'n to mortal man, 70 To lie fo boldly as we women can : eyes, And call your maids to witnefs how he lies. Hark, old Sir Paul! ('twas thus I us'd to fay) Whence is our neighbour's wife fo rich and gay? 75 Treated, carefs'd, where'er fhe's pleas'd to roam I fit in tatters, and immur'd at home. Why to her house doft thou so oft repair? Lord! how you fwell, and rage like any fiend! 80 85 If poor (you fay) fhe drains her husband's purfe; If rich, fhe keeps her priest, or something worse ; If highly born, intolerably vain, Vapours and pride by turns poffefs her brain, Now gayly mad, now fourly splenetic, 90 Freakish when well, and fretful when she's fick. If fair, then chafte fhe cannot long abide, By preffin youth attack'd on ev'ry fide: If foul, her wealth the lufty lover lures, 95 Or |