Chaucer's ghoast Or, A Piece of antiquity. Containing twelve pleasant Fables of Ovid penn'd after the ancient manner of writing in England. Which makes them prove Mock-Poems to the present Poetry. With the History of Prince Corniger, and his Champion Sir Crucifrag, that run a tilt likewise at the present Historiographers |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. | [My son a man to buy him peace] |
| XII. |
 | Chaucer's ghoast |  |
[My son a man to buy him peace]
Arg. XI.
Of the great patience of the Philosopher Socrates, and how his Wife threw a pot full of water upon his head.
behoves to suffer as Socrates;
for amongst men 'tis evident,
that he was very patient;
for he wedded a wicked Wife,
who gave him much sorrow and strife:
against his ease it was contraire,
but he spake ever soft and fair;
till it befell, (as it is told)
in Winter when the day is cold,
that his wife was from the Well come,
with a full pot of water home:
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and saw how that her quiet spouse
was set, and looked on a Book
nigh to the fire, as he who took
his ease, as for a man of age;
but she began her wonted rage,
and asked him what divel he thought,
that he so near the fire him brought:
when as she labour took in hand,
and said that such an Husband
was to a Wife not worth a stre,
but he said neither nay nor ye;
but held him still, and let her chide.
But she which may her self not hide,
began within forthwith to swell,
and that she brought in from the VVell,
the water-pot she put aloft,
and bade him speak; but he all soft
sate still, and not a word answer'd,
with that she ask'd him how he far'd;
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and all the water on his head
she poured out, and bade him wake.
But he which never would forsake
his patience, did softly spake,
that he ne wondred what was done,
for now the winter was begun,
and winter as by way of kind,
which stormy is, as men it find,
first maketh the winds for to blow,
and after that within a throw
it rains, which reason's well beseen,
to cause me novv both vvind and rain
after the season of the year;
and then he set him near the fire.
| Chaucer's ghoast | |