 | Dame Sirith |  |
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DAME SIRITH
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Ci comence le fablel et la cointise de Dame Siriz
As I com bi an waie,
Hof on ich herde saie,
Ful modi mon and proud;
Wis he wes of lore,
And gouþlich under gore,
And cloþed in fair sroud.
Hof on ich herde saie,
Ful modi mon and proud;
Wis he wes of lore,
And gouþlich under gore,
And cloþed in fair sroud.
To lovien he bigon
On wedded wimmon—
Þerof he hevede wrong;
His herte hire wes alon,
Þat reste nevede he non,
Þe love wes so strong.
On wedded wimmon—
Þerof he hevede wrong;
His herte hire wes alon,
Þat reste nevede he non,
Þe love wes so strong.
Wel ȝerne he him biþoute
Hou he hire gete moute,
In ani cunnes wise.
Þat befel on an day
Þe loverd wend away
Hon his marchaundise.
Hou he hire gete moute,
In ani cunnes wise.
Þat befel on an day
Þe loverd wend away
Hon his marchaundise.
He wente him to þen inne
Þer hoe wonede inne,
Þat wes riche won;
And com into þen halle,
Þer hoe wes srud wiþ palle,
And þus he bigon:
Þer hoe wonede inne,
Þat wes riche won;
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Þer hoe wes srud wiþ palle,
And þus he bigon:
[Wilekin]
‘God almiȝtten be herinne!’
[Margeri]
‘Welcome, so ich ever bide winne!’
Quod þis wif.
‘His hit þi wille, com and site,
And wat is þi wille let me wite,
Mi leve lif.
Quod þis wif.
‘His hit þi wille, com and site,
And wat is þi wille let me wite,
Mi leve lif.
Bi houre Loverd, hevene King,
If I mai don ani þing
Þat þe is lef,
Þou miȝtt finden me ful fre;
Fol bleþeli will I don for þe,
Wiþhouten gref.’
If I mai don ani þing
Þat þe is lef,
Þou miȝtt finden me ful fre;
Fol bleþeli will I don for þe,
Wiþhouten gref.’
[Wilekin]
‘Dame, God þe forȝelde!Bote on þat þou me nout bimelde,
Ne make þe wroþ,
Min hernde will I to þe bede;
Bote wraþþen þe for ani dede
Were me loþ.’
[Margeri]
‘Nai, iwis, Wilekin!For noþing þat ever is min,
Þau þou hit ȝirne,
Houncurteis ne will I be;
Ne con I nout on vilte,
Ne nout I nelle lerne.
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Þou mai[ȝ]t saien al þine wille,
And I shal herknen and sitten stille,
Þat þou have told.
And if þat þou me tellest skil,
I shal don after þi wil—
Þat be þou bold.
And I shal herknen and sitten stille,
Þat þou have told.
And if þat þou me tellest skil,
I shal don after þi wil—
Þat be þou bold.
And þau þou saie me ani same,
Ne shal I þe nouiȝt blame
For þi sawe.’
Ne shal I þe nouiȝt blame
For þi sawe.’
[Wilekin]
‘Nou Ich have wonne leve,
Ȝif þat I þe shulde greve,
Hit were hounlawe.
Ȝif þat I þe shulde greve,
Hit were hounlawe.
Certes, dame, þou seist as hende,
And I shal setten spel on ende,
And tellen þe al—
Wat Ich wolde, and wi Ich com;
Ne con Ich saien non falsdom,
Ne non I ne shal.
And I shal setten spel on ende,
And tellen þe al—
Wat Ich wolde, and wi Ich com;
Ne con Ich saien non falsdom,
Ne non I ne shal.
Ich habbe iloved þe moni ȝer,
Þau Ich nabbe nout ben her
Mi love to schowe.
Wile þi loverd is in toune,
Ne mai no mon wiþ þe holden roune
Wiþ no þewe.
Þau Ich nabbe nout ben her
Mi love to schowe.
Wile þi loverd is in toune,
Ne mai no mon wiþ þe holden roune
Wiþ no þewe.
Ȝurstendai Ich herde saie,
As Ich wende bi þe waie,
Of oure sire;
Me tolde me þat he was gon
To þe feire of Botolfston
In Lincolneschire.
As Ich wende bi þe waie,
Of oure sire;
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To þe feire of Botolfston
In Lincolneschire.
And for Ich weste þat he wes houte,
Þarfore Ich am I igon aboute
To speken wiþ þe.
Him burþ to liken wel his lif,
Þat miȝtte welde secc a wif
In privite.
Þarfore Ich am I igon aboute
To speken wiþ þe.
Him burþ to liken wel his lif,
Þat miȝtte welde secc a wif
In privite.
Dame, if hit is þi wille,
Boþ dernelike and stille
Ich wille þe love.’
Boþ dernelike and stille
Ich wille þe love.’
[Margeri]
‘Þat wold I don for non þin[g],
Bi houre Loverd, hevene King,
Þat ous is bove!
Bi houre Loverd, hevene King,
Þat ous is bove!
Ich habe mi loverd þat is mi spouse,
Þat maiden broute me to house
Mid menske inou;
He loveþ me and Ich him wel,
Oure love is also trewe as stel,
Wiþhouten wou.
Þat maiden broute me to house
Mid menske inou;
He loveþ me and Ich him wel,
Oure love is also trewe as stel,
Wiþhouten wou.
Þau he be from hom on his hernde,
Ich were ounseli, if Ich lernede
To ben on hore.
Þat ne shal nevere be,
Þat I shal don selk falsete,
On bedde ne on flore;
Ich were ounseli, if Ich lernede
To ben on hore.
Þat ne shal nevere be,
Þat I shal don selk falsete,
On bedde ne on flore;
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Never more his lifwile,
Thau he were on hondred mile
Biȝende Rome,
For no þing ne shuld I take
Mon on erþe to ben mi make,
Ar his hom-come.’
Thau he were on hondred mile
Biȝende Rome,
For no þing ne shuld I take
Mon on erþe to ben mi make,
Ar his hom-come.’
[Wilekin]
‘Dame, dame, torn þi mod;Þi curteisi was ever god,
And ȝet shal be;
For þe Loverd þat ous haveþ wrout,
Amend þi mod, and torn þi þout,
And rew on me.’
[Margeri]
‘We, we! [h]oldest þou me a fol?So Ich ever mote biden Ȝol,
Þou art ounwis.
Mi þout ne shalt þou never wende;
Mi loverd is curteis mon and hende,
And mon of pris;
And Ich am wif boþe god and trewe;
Trewer womon mai no mon cnowe
Þen Ich am.
Þilke time shal never bitide
Þat mon, for wouing ne þoru prude,
Shal do me scham.’
Trewer womon mai no mon cnowe
Þen Ich am.
Þilke time shal never bitide
Þat mon, for wouing ne þoru prude,
Shal do me scham.’
[Wilekin]
‘Swete levmon, merci!Same ne vilani
Ne bede I þe non;
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As mon þat wolde of love spede,
And fi[n]de won.’
[Margeri]
‘So bide Ich evere mete oþer drinke,Her þou lesest al þi swinke.
Þou miȝt gon hom, leve broþer,
For [ne] wille Ich þe love, ne non oþer
Bote mi wedde houssebonde;
To tellen hit þe ne wille Ich wonde.’
[Wilekin]
‘Certes, dame, þat me forþinkeþ;An[d] wo is þe mon þa[t] muchel swinkeþ,
And at þe laste leseþ his sped!
To maken menis his him ned;
Bi me I saie [hit] ful iwis,
Þat love þe—love þat I shal mis.
An[d], dame, have nou godne dai!
And þilke Loverd þat al welde mai
Leve þat þi þout so tourne
Þat Ich for þe no leng ne mourne.’
Drerimod he wente awai,
And þoute boþe niȝt and dai
Hire al for to wende.
A frend him radde for to fare—
And leven al his muchele kare—
To Dame Siriþ þe hende.
And þoute boþe niȝt and dai
Hire al for to wende.
A frend him radde for to fare—
And leven al his muchele kare—
To Dame Siriþ þe hende.
Þider he wente him anon,
So suiþe so he miȝtte gon,
No mon he ni mette.
Ful he wes of tene and treie;
Mid wordes milde and eke sleie
Faire he hire grette.
So suiþe so he miȝtte gon,
No mon he ni mette.
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Mid wordes milde and eke sleie
Faire he hire grette.
[Wilekin]
‘God þe iblessi, Dame Siriþ!Ich am icom to speken þe with,
For ful muchele nede;
And Ich mai have help of þe,
Þou shalt have, þat þou shalt se,
Ful riche mede.’
[Sirith]
‘Welcomen art þou, leve sone;And if Ich mai oþer cone
In eni wise for þe do,
I shal strengþen me þerto;
Forþi, leve sone, tel þou me
Wat þou woldest I dude for þe.’
[Wilekin]
‘Bote, leve nelde, ful evele I fare;I lede mi lif wiþ tene and kare;
Wiþ muchel hounsele ich lede mi lif,
And þat is for on suete wif
Þat heiȝtte Margeri.
Ich have iloved hire moni dai,
And of hire love hoe seiz me nai;
Hider Ich com forþi.
And þat is for on suete wif
Þat heiȝtte Margeri.
Ich have iloved hire moni dai,
And of hire love hoe seiz me nai;
Hider Ich com forþi.
Bote-if hoe wende hire mod,
For serewe mon Ich wakese wod,
Oþer miselve quelle.
Ich hevede iþout miself to slo;
Forþen radde a frend me go
To þe, mi sereue telle.
For serewe mon Ich wakese wod,
Oþer miselve quelle.
Ich hevede iþout miself to slo;
Forþen radde a frend me go
To þe, mi sereue telle.
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He saide me, wiþhouten faille
Þat þou me couþest helpe and vaile,
And bringen me of wo,
Þoru þine crafftes and þine dedes;
And Ich wile ȝeve þe riche mede[s],
Wiþ þat hit be so.’
Þat þou me couþest helpe and vaile,
And bringen me of wo,
Þoru þine crafftes and þine dedes;
And Ich wile ȝeve þe riche mede[s],
Wiþ þat hit be so.’
[Sirith]
‘Benedicite be herinne!Her havest þou, sone, mikel sinne.
Loverd, for his suete name,
Lete þe þerfore haven no shame!
Þou servest affter Godes grame,
Wen þou seist on me silk blame;
For Ich am old and sek and lame;
Seknesse haveþ maked me ful tame.
Blesse þe, blesse þe, leve knave,
Leste þou mesaventer have
For þis lesing þat is founden
Oppon me, þat am harde ibo[u]nden!
Ich am on holi wimon,
On wicchecrafft nout I ne con,
Bote wiþ gode men[s] almesdede
Ilke dai mi lif I fede,
And bidde mi Pater Noster and mi Crede,
Þat Goed hem helpe at hore nede
Þat helpen me mi lif to lede,
And leve þat hem mote wel spede.
His lif and his soule worþe ishend
Þat þe to me þis hernde haveþ send;
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On him þis shome me haveþ speken.’
[Wilekin]
‘Leve nelde, bilef al þis;Me þinkeþ þa[t] þou art onwis.
Þe mon þat me to þe taute,
He weste þat þou hous couþest saute.
Help, Dame Siriþ, if þou maut,
To make me wiþ þe sueting saut,
And Ich wille geve þe gift ful stark:
Moni a pound and moni a marke,
Warme pilche and warme shon,
Wiþ þat min hernde be wel don.
Of muchel godlec miȝt þou ȝelpe,
If hit be so þat þou me helpe.’
[Sirith]
‘Liȝ me nout, Wilekin, bi þi leute.Is hit þin hernest þou tekest me?
Lovest þou wel Dame Margeri?’
[Wilekin]
‘Ȝe, nelde, witerli,Ich hire love! Hit mot me spille
Bote ich gete hire to mi wille.’
[Sirith]
‘Wat, god Wilekin, me reweþ þi scaþe;Houre Loverd sende þe help raþe!
Weste Hic hit miȝtte ben forholen,
Me wolde þunche wel solen
Þi wille for to fellen.
Make me siker wiþ word on honde
Þat þou wolt helen, and I wile fonde
If Ich mai hire tellen.
Me wolde þunche wel solen
Þi wille for to fellen.
Make me siker wiþ word on honde
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If Ich mai hire tellen.
For al þe world ne wold I nout
Þat Ich were to chapitre ibrout
For none selke werkes.
Mi jugement were sone igiven—
To ben wiþ shome somer-driven
Wiþ prestes and with clarkes.’
Þat Ich were to chapitre ibrout
For none selke werkes.
Mi jugement were sone igiven—
To ben wiþ shome somer-driven
Wiþ prestes and with clarkes.’
[Wilekin]
‘Iwis, nelde, ne wold IÞat þou hevedest vilani
Ne shame, for mi goed.
Her I þe mi trouþe pliȝtte,
Ich shal helen bi mi miȝtte,
Bi þe holi roed!’
[Sirith]
‘Welcome, Wilekin, hiderward!Her havest imaked a foreward
Þat þe mai ful wel like.
Þou maiȝt blesse þilke siþ,
For þou maiȝt make þe ful bliþ;
Dar þou namore sike.
To goderhele ever come þou hider,
For sone will I gange þider,
And maken hire hounderstonde.
I shal kenne hire sulke a lore
Þat hoe shal lovien þe mikel more
Þen ani mon in londe.’
For sone will I gange þider,
And maken hire hounderstonde.
I shal kenne hire sulke a lore
Þat hoe shal lovien þe mikel more
Þen ani mon in londe.’
[Wilekin]
‘Al so hav I Godes griþ,Wel havest þou said, Dame Siriþ,
And goderhele shal ben þin.
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Þis Ich ȝeve þe to meding,
To buggen þe sep and swin.’
[Sirith]
‘So Ich evere brouke hous oþer flet,Neren never penes beter biset
Þen þes shulen ben.
For I shal don a juperti,
And a ferli maistri;
Þat þou shalt ful wel sen.—
Pepir nou shalt þou ete,
Þis mustart shal ben þi mete,
And gar þin eien to renne;
I shal make a lesing
Of þin heie-renning,
Ich wot wel wer and wenne.’
Þis mustart shal ben þi mete,
And gar þin eien to renne;
I shal make a lesing
Of þin heie-renning,
Ich wot wel wer and wenne.’
[Wilekin]
‘Wat! nou const þou no god?Me þinkeþ þat þou art wod.
Ȝevest þo þe welpe mustard?’
[Sirith]
‘Be stille, boinard!I shal mit þis ilke gin
Gar hire love to ben al þin.
Ne shal ich never have reste ne ro
Til ich have told hou þou shalt do.
Abid me her til min hom-come.’
[Wilekin]
‘Ȝus, bi þe somer blome,Heþen null I ben binomen,
Til þou be aȝein comen.’
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As a wrecche þat is wo,
Þat hoe come hire to þen inne
Þer þis gode wif wes inne.
Þo hoe to þe dore com,
Swiþe reuliche hoe bigon:
[Sirith]
‘Loverd,’ hoe seiþ, ‘wo is holde wives,Þat in poverte ledeþ ay [hore] lives;
Not no mon so muchel of pine
As poure wif þat falleþ in ansine;
Þat mai ilke mon bi me wite,
For mai I nouþer gange ne site;
Ded wold I ben ful fain.
Hounger and þurst me haveþ nei slain;
Ich ne mai mine limes onwold,
For mikel hounger and þurst and cold.
Warto liveth selke a wrecche?
Wi nul Goed mi soule fecche?’
[Margeri]
‘Seli wif, God þe hounbinde!To dai wille I þe mete finde,
For love of Goed.
Ich have reuþe of þi wo,
For evele icloþed I se þe go,
And evele ishoed;
Com herin, Ich wile þe fede.’
[Sirith]
‘Goed almiȝtten do þe mede,And þe Loverd þat wes on rode idon,
And faste fourti daus to non,
And hevene and erþe haveþ to welde,
As þilke Loverd þe forȝelde.’
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[Margeri]
‘Have her fles and eke bred,And make þe glad, hit is mi red;
And have her þe coppe wiþ þe drinke;
Goed do þe mede for þi swinke.’
Þenne spac þat holde wif—
Crist awarie hire lif!—
Crist awarie hire lif!—
[Sirith]
‘Alas! alas! þat ever I live!
Al þe sunne Ich wolde forgive
Þe mon þat smite of min heved!
Ich wolde mi lif me were bireved!’
Al þe sunne Ich wolde forgive
Þe mon þat smite of min heved!
Ich wolde mi lif me were bireved!’
[Margeri]
‘Seli wif, what eilleþ þe?’[Sirith]
‘Bote eþe mai I sori be:Ich hevede a douter feir and fre,
Feiror ne miȝtte no mon se.
Hoe hevede a curteis hossebonde,
Freour mon miȝtte no mon fonde.
Mi douter lovede him al to wel;
Forþi mak I sori del.
Oppon a dai he was out wend,
And þarþoru wes mi douter shend.
He hede on ernde out of toune;
And com a modi clarc wiþ croune,
To mi douter his love beed,
And hoe nolde nout folewe his red.
He ne miȝtte his wille have,
For no þing he miȝtte crave;
Þenne bigon þe clerc to wiche,
And shop mi douter til a biche.
Þis is mi douter þat Ich of speke;
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Loke hou hire heien greten,
On hire cheken þe teres meten.
Forþi, dame, were hit no wonder,
Þau min herte burste assunder.
A[nd] wose ever is ȝong houssewif,
Ha loveþ ful luitel hire lif,
And eni clerc of love hire bede,
Bote hoe grante, and lete him spede.’
[Margeri]
‘A, Loverd Crist! wat mai [I] þenne do?Þis enderdai com a clarc me to,
And bed me love on his manere,
And Ich him nolde nout ihere.
Ich trouue he wolle me forsape.
Hou troustu, nelde, Ich moue ascape?’
[Sirith]
‘God almiȝtten be þin helpÞat þou ne be nouþer bicche ne welp!
Leve dame, if eni clerc
Bedeþ þe þat love-werc,
Ich rede þat þou grante his bone,
And bicom his lefmon sone.
And if þat þou so ne dost,
A worse red þou ounderfost.’
[Margeri]
‘Loverd Crist, þat me is wo,Þat þe clarc me hede fro
Ar he me hevede biwonne!
Me were levere þen ani fe
That he hevede enes leien bi me,
And efftsones bigunne.
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Evermore, nelde, ich wille be þin,
Wiþ þat þou feche me Willekin,
Þe clarc of wam I telle;
Giftes will I geve þe
Þat þou maiȝt ever þe betere be,
Bi Godes houne belle!’
Wiþ þat þou feche me Willekin,
Þe clarc of wam I telle;
Giftes will I geve þe
Þat þou maiȝt ever þe betere be,
Bi Godes houne belle!’
[Sirith]
‘Soþliche, mi swete dame,And if I mai wiþhoute blame,
Fain Ich wille ffonde;
And if Ich mai wiþ him mete
Bi eni wei oþer bi strete,
Nout ne will I wonde.
Have god dai, dame! forþ will I go.’
[Margeri]
‘Allegate loke þat þou do so
As Ich þe bad;
Bote þat þou me Wilekin bringe,
Ne mai [I] never lawe ne singe,
Ne be glad.’
As Ich þe bad;
Bote þat þou me Wilekin bringe,
Ne mai [I] never lawe ne singe,
Ne be glad.’
[Sirith]
‘Iwis, dame, if I mai,Ich wille bringen him ȝet to-dai,
Bi mine miȝtte.’
Hoe wente hire to hire inne,
Her hoe founde Wilekinne,
Bi houre Driȝtte!
[Sirith]
‘Swete Wilekin, be þou nout dred,For of þin her[n]de Ich have wel sped.
Swiþe com for[þ] þider wiþ me,
For hoe haveþ send affter þe;
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For þou havest grantise of hire love.’
[Wilekin]
‘God þe forȝelde, leve nelde,Þat hevene and erþe haveþ to welde!’
Þis modi mon bigon to gon
Wiþ Siriþ to his levemon
In þilke stounde.
Dame Siriþ bigon to telle,
And swor bi Godes ouene belle,
Hoe hevede him founde.
Wiþ Siriþ to his levemon
In þilke stounde.
Dame Siriþ bigon to telle,
And swor bi Godes ouene belle,
Hoe hevede him founde.
[Sirith]
‘Dame, so have ich Wilekin sout,For nou have Ich him ibrout.’
[Margeri]
‘Welcome, Wilekin, swete þing,Þou art welcomore þen þe king.
Wilekin þe swete,
Mi love I þe bihete,
To don al þine wille.
Turnd Ich have mi þout,
For I ne wolde nout
Þat þou þe shuldest spille.’
Mi love I þe bihete,
To don al þine wille.
Turnd Ich have mi þout,
For I ne wolde nout
Þat þou þe shuldest spille.’
[Wilekin]
‘Dame, so Ich evere bide noen,And Ich am redi and iboen
To don al þat þou saie.
Nelde, par ma fai!
Þou most gange awai,
Wile Ich and hoe shulen plaie.’
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[Sirith]
‘And wose is onwis,And for non pris
Ne con geten his levemon,
I shal, for mi mede,
Garen him to spede,
For ful wel I con.’
| Dame Sirith | |