Her answer she shall have, I undertake; We leave them here in this heroic strain, 710 Thus, singing as he went, at last he drew, By easy steps, to where the pear-tree grew: The longing dame look'd up, and spied her love Full fairly perch'd among the boughs above. She stopp'd, and signing,-"O good gods!' she cried, 720 'What pangs, what sudden shoots distend my side! Oh for that tempting fruit, so fresh, so green! Sore sigh'd the knight to hear his lady's cry: With all my soul,' he thus replied again; I'd spend my dearest blood to ease thy pain.' With that his back against the trunk he bent: She seized a twig, and up the tree she went. 731 Now prove your patience, gentle ladies all! 740 Nor let on me your heavy anger fall: "Tis truth I tell, though not in phrase refined: Though blunt my tale, yet honest is my mind. What feats the lady in the tree might do, 750 In that nice moment, lo! the wondering knight Look'd out, and stood restored to sudden sight: Straight on the tree his eager eyes he bent, As one whose thoughts were on his spouse intent; But when he saw his bosom wife so dress'd, His rage was such as cannot be express'd. Not frantic mothers, when their infants die, With louder clamours rend the vaulted sky: He cried, he roar'd, he storm'd, he tore his hair :'Death! hell! and furies! what dost thou do there?' 'What ails my lord?' the trembling dame replied, 760 'I thought your patience had been better tried: 'So Heaven preserve the sight it has restored, 'Guard me, good angels!' cried the gentle May: 'Pray Heaven, this magic work the proper way! Alas, my love! 'tis certain, could you see, You ne'er had used these killing words to me: So help me, fates, as 'tis no perfect sight, But some faint glimmering of a doubtful light.' 'What I have said,' quoth he, 'I must maintain, For, by the immortal powers, it seem'd too plain—' EE 780 'By all those powers, some frenzy seized your mind,' Replied the dame: are these the thanks I find? Wretch that I am, that e'er I was so kind!' And, as they fell, she wiped from either eye Signs of remorse, while thus his spouse he cheer'd: 'Madam, 'tis pass'd, and my short anger o'er: 'On bare suspicion thus to treat your bride : Then, sir, be cautious, nor too rashly deem : seem.! Consult your reason, and you soon shall find He hugg'd her close, and kiss'd her o'er and o'er, Disturb'd with doubts and jealousies no more: Both, pleased and bless'd, renew'd their mutual VOWS, A fruitful wife and a believing spouse. Thus ends our tale, whose moral next to make; Let all wise husbands hence example take; And pray, to crown the pleasure of their lives, To be so well deluded by their wives. 820 THE WIFE OF BATH. HER PROLOGUE. FROM CHAUCER. BEHOLD the woes of matrimonial life, I was myself the scourge that caused the smart ; Christ saw a wedding once, the Scripture says, And saw but one, 'tis thought, in all his days; 10 Whence some infer, whose conscience is too nice, No pious Christian ought to marry twice. But let them read, and solve me, if they can, The words address'd to the Samaritan: Five times in lawful wedlock she was join'd; And sure the certain stint was ne'er defined. 'Increase and multiply,' was Heaven's command, And that's a text I clearly understand: 20 This too,-'Let men their sires and mothers leave, |