Whor'd by my flave----perfidious wretch! may

hell

As furely feize thee, as I faw too well.

you

fee,

770

Guard me, good angels! cry'd the gentle May, Pray heav'n, this magic work the proper way! Alas, my love! 'tis certain, could You ne'er had us'd these killing words to me: So help me, fates, as 'tis no perfect fight, 775 But fome faint glimm'ring of a doubtful light.

What I have faid (quoth he) I must maintain, For by th'immortal pow'rs it feem'd too plain--By all those pow'rs, fome frenzy feiz'd your

mind, 779 (Reply'd the dame) are these the thanks I find? Wretch that I am, that e'er I was fo kind! She faid; a rifing figh exprefs'd her woe, The ready tears apace began to flow, And as they fell she wip'd from either eye 784 The drops (for women, when they lift, can cry.) The Knight was touch'd; and in his looks appear'd

Signs of remorse, while thus his spouse he

chear'd:

Madam, 'tis paft, and my

Come down, and vex your tender heart no more;

Excufe me, dear, if aught amifs was said, 790
For, on my foul, amends fhall foon be made:
Let my repentance your forgiveness draw,
By heav'n, I fwore but what I thought I faw.

Ah mylov'dlord! 'twas much unkind (she cry'd)
On bare fufpicion thus to treat your bride. 795
But till your fight's establish'd, for a while,
Imperfect objects may your fenfe beguile.
Thus when from fleep we firft our eyes display,
The balls are wounded with the piercing ray,
And dusky vapours rife, and intercept the day:
So just recov'ring from the fhades of night, 801
Your swimming eyes are drunk with sudden light,
Strange phantoms dance around, and fkim be-
fore your fight.

Then, Sir, be cautious, nor too rafhly deem; Heav'n knows how feldom things are what they

feem!

805

Confult your reason, and you foon fhall find
'Twas you were jealous, not your wife unkind :
Jove ne'er spoke oracle more true than this,
None judge fo wrong as those who think amifs.

With that she leap'd into her Lord's embrace With well diffembled virtue in her face. 811 He hugg'd her close, and kiss'd her o'er and o'er, Disturb'd with doubts and jealoufies no more;

Both, pleas'd and blefs'd, renew'd their mutual

Vows,

A fruitful wife, and a believing spouse.

815

Thus ends our tale, whofe moral next to make, Let all wife husbands hence example take; And pray, to crown the pleasure of their lives,

To be fo well deluded by their wives.

THE

WIFE of BATH

HER

PROLOGUE.

FROM

CHAUCER.