|
|
Justinus,
that ay stille sat and
herde,
|
|
|
Right in this wise he to Placebo answerde:
|
|
|
"Now, brother myn, be pacient, I preye,
|
|
310
|
Syn ye han seyd, and herkneth what
I seye.
|
|
|
Senek, amonges othere wordes wyse,
|
|
|
Seith that a man oghte hym right wel avyse
|
|
|
To whom he yeveth his lond
or his catel.
|
|
|
And syn I oghte avyse
me right wel
|
|
315
|
To whom I yeve my good awey
from me,
|
|
|
Wel muchel moore I
oghte avysed be
|
|
|
To whom I yeve my body for
alwey.
|
|
|
I warne yow wel, it is no childes pley
|
|
|
To take a wyf withouten avysement.
|
|
320
|
Men moste enquere, this is myn assent,
|
|
|
Wher she be wys, or sobre, or dronkelewe,
|
|
|
Or proud, or elles ootherweys a shrewe,
|
|
|
A chidestere, or wastour of thy good,
|
|
|
Or riche, or poore, or elles mannyssh wood.
|
|
325
|
Al be it so that no man fynden shal
|
|
|
Noon
in this world that trotteth hool in al,
|
|
|
Ne man, ne beest, swich as men
koude devyse;
|
|
|
But nathelees it
oghte ynough suffise
|
|
|
With any wyf, if so were that she hadde
|
|
330
|
Mo goode thewes than hire vices badde;
|
|
|
And al this axeth leyser for
t'enquere.
|
|
|
For, God it woot, I have wept
many a teere
|
|
|
Ful pryvely, syn I have had a
wyf.
|
|
|
Preyse whoso wole a wedded mannes lyf,
|
|
335
|
Certein I fynde in it but cost and care
|
|
|
And observances,
of alle blisses bare.
|
|
|
And yet, God woot, my
neighebores aboute,
|
|
|
And namely of wommen many a route,
|
|
|
Seyn that I have the mooste stedefast wyf,
|
|
340
|
And eek the mekeste oon that bereth
lyf;
|
|
|
But I woot best where
wryngeth me my sho.
|
|
|
Ye mowe, for me, right as yow liketh do;
|
|
|
Avyseth yow - ye been a man of age -
|
|
|
How that ye entren into mariage,
|
|
345
|
And namely with a yong wyf and a fair.
|
|
|
By hym that made water, erthe, and air,
|
|
|
The yongeste man that is in al this route
|
|
|
Is bisy ynough to bryngen it aboute
|
|
|
To han his wyf
allone. Trusteth me,
|
|
350
|
Ye shul nat plesen hire fully yeres thre, -
|
|
|
This is to seyn, to doon hire ful plesaunce.
|
|
|
A wyf axeth ful many
an observaunce.
|
|
|
I prey yow that ye be nat yvele apayd."
|
|
|
|
Justinus,
who sat still and calm, and heard,
|
|
|
Right in this wise Placebo he answered:
|
|
|
"Now, brother mine, be patient, so I
pray;
|
|
310
|
Since you have spoken, hear what I shall
say.
|
|
|
For Seneca, among his words so wise,
|
|
|
Says that a man ought well himself advise
|
|
|
To whom he'll give his chattels or his land.
|
|
|
And since I ought to know just where I stand
|
|
315
|
Before I give my wealth away from me,
|
|
|
How much more well advised I ought to be
|
|
|
To whom I give my body; for alway
|
|
|
I warn you well, that it is not child's play
|
|
|
To take a wife without much advisement.
|
|
320
|
Men must inquire, and this is my intent,
|
|
|
Whether she's wise, or sober, or drunkard,
|
|
|
Or proud, or else in other things froward,
|
|
|
Or shrewish, or a waster of what's had,
|
|
|
Or rich, or poor, or whether she's man-mad.
|
|
325
|
And be it true that no man finds, or shall,
|
|
|
One in this world that perfect is in all,
|
|
|
Of man or beast, such as men could devise;
|
|
|
Nevertheless, it ought enough suffice
|
|
|
With any wife, if so were that she had
|
|
330
|
More traits of virtue that her vices bad;
|
|
|
And all this leisure asks to see and hear.
|
|
|
For God knows I have wept full many a tear
|
|
|
In privity, since I have had a wife.
|
|
|
Praise whoso will a wedded man's good life,
|
|
335
|
Truly I find in it, but cost and care
|
|
|
And many duties, of all blisses bare.
|
|
|
And yet, God knows, my neighbours round
about,
|
|
|
Especially the women, many a rout,
|
|
|
Say that I've married the most steadfast
wife,
|
|
340
|
Aye, and the meekest one there is in life.
|
|
|
But I know best where pinches me my shoe.
|
|
|
You may, for me, do as you please to do;
|
|
|
But take good heed, since you're a man of
age,
|
|
|
How you shall enter into a marriage,
|
|
345
|
Especially with a young wife and a fair.
|
|
|
By him ho made the water, earth, and air,
|
|
|
The youngest man there is in all this rout
|
|
|
Is busy enough to bring the thing about
|
|
|
That he alone shall have his wife, trust me.
|
|
350
|
You'll not be able to please her through
years three,
|
|
|
That is to say, to give all she desires.
|
|
|
A wife attention all the while requires.
|
|
|
I pray you that you be
not offended."
|
|