Geoffrey Chaucer - Geoffrey Chaucer - The Canterbury Tales (English Edition)

And all his lieges, shall y-christen'd be,

And he shall have Constance in marriage,

And certain gold, I n'ot* what quantity, *know not

And hereto find they suffisant surety.

The same accord is sworn on either side;

Now, fair Constance, Almighty God thee guide!

Now woulde some men waiten, as I guess,

That I should tellen all the purveyance*, *provision

The which the emperor of his noblesse

Hath shapen* for his daughter, Dame Constance. *prepared

Well may men know that so great ordinance

May no man tellen in a little clause,

As was arrayed for so high a cause.

Bishops be shapen with her for to wend,

Lordes, ladies, and knightes of renown,

And other folk enough, this is the end.

And notified is throughout all the town,

That every wight with great devotioun

Should pray to Christ, that he this marriage

Receive *in gree*, and speede this voyage. *with good will, favour*

The day is comen of her departing, —

I say the woful fatal day is come,

That there may be no longer tarrying,

But forward they them dressen* all and some. *prepare to set out*

Constance, that was with sorrow all o'ercome,

Full pale arose, and dressed her to wend,

For well she saw there was no other end.

Alas! what wonder is it though she wept,

That shall be sent to a strange nation

From friendes, that so tenderly her kept,

And to be bound under subjection

of one, she knew not his condition?

Husbands be all good, and have been *of yore*, *of old*

That knowe wives; I dare say no more.

"Father," she said, "thy wretched child Constance,

Thy younge daughter, foster'd up so soft,

And you, my mother, my sov'reign pleasance

Over all thing, out-taken* Christ *on loft*, *except *on high*

Constance your child her recommendeth oft

Unto your grace; for I shall to Syrie,

Nor shall I ever see you more with eye.

"Alas! unto the barbarous nation

I must anon, since that it is your will:

But Christ, that starf* for our redemption, *died

So give me grace his hestes* to fulfil. *commands

I, wretched woman, *no force though I spill!* *no matter though

Women are born to thraldom and penance, I perish*

And to be under mannes governance."

I trow at Troy when Pyrrhus brake the wall,

Or Ilion burnt, or Thebes the city,

Nor at Rome for the harm through Hannibal,

That Romans hath y-vanquish'd times three,

Was heard such tender weeping for pity,

As in the chamber was for her parting;

But forth she must, whether she weep or sing.

O firste moving cruel Firmament,<5>

With thy diurnal sway that crowdest* aye, *pushest together, drivest

And hurtlest all from East till Occident

That naturally would hold another way;

Thy crowding set the heav'n in such array

At the beginning of this fierce voyage,

That cruel Mars hath slain this marriage.

Unfortunate ascendant tortuous,

Of which the lord is helpless fall'n, alas!

Out of his angle into the darkest house;

O Mars, O Atyzar,<6> as in this case;

O feeble Moon, unhappy is thy pace.* *progress

Thou knittest thee where thou art not receiv'd,

Where thou wert well, from thennes art thou weiv'd. <7>

Imprudent emperor of Rome, alas!

Was there no philosopher in all thy town?

Is no time bet* than other in such case? *better

Of voyage is there none election,

Namely* to folk of high condition, *especially

Not *when a root is of a birth y-know?* *when the nativity is known*

Alas! we be too lewed*, or too slow. *ignorant

To ship was brought this woeful faire maid

Solemnely, with every circumstance:

"Now Jesus Christ be with you all," she said.

There is no more,but "Farewell, fair Constance."

She *pained her* to make good countenance. *made an effort*

And forth I let her sail in this manner,

And turn I will again to my matter.

The mother of the Soudan, well of vices,

Espied hath her sone's plain intent,

How he will leave his olde sacrifices:

And right anon she for her council sent,

And they be come, to knowe what she meant,

And when assembled was this folk *in fere*, *together*

She sat her down, and said as ye shall hear.

"Lordes," she said, "ye knowen every one,

How that my son in point is for to lete* *forsake

The holy lawes of our Alkaron*, *Koran

Given by God's messenger Mahomete:

But one avow to greate God I hete*, *promise

Life shall rather out of my body start,

Than Mahomet's law go out of mine heart.

"What should us tiden* of this newe law, *betide, befall

But thraldom to our bodies, and penance,

And afterward in hell to be y-draw,

For we *renied Mahound our creance?* *denied Mahomet our belief*

But, lordes, will ye maken assurance,

As I shall say, assenting to my lore*? *advice

And I shall make us safe for evermore."

They sworen and assented every man

To live with her and die, and by her stand:

And every one, in the best wise he can,

To strengthen her shall all his friendes fand.* *endeavour<8>

And she hath this emprise taken in hand,

Which ye shall heare that I shall devise*; *relate

And to them all she spake right in this wise.

"We shall first feign us *Christendom to take*; *embrace Christianity*

Cold water shall not grieve us but a lite*: *little

And I shall such a feast and revel make,

That, as I trow, I shall the Soudan quite.* *requite, match

For though his wife be christen'd ne'er so white,

She shall have need to wash away the red,

Though she a fount of water with her led."

O Soudaness*, root of iniquity, *Sultaness

Virago thou, Semiramis the second!

O serpent under femininity,

Like to the serpent deep in hell y-bound!

O feigned woman, all that may confound

Virtue and innocence, through thy malice,

Is bred in thee, as nest of every vice!

O Satan envious! since thilke day

That thou wert chased from our heritage,

Well knowest thou to woman th' olde way.

Thou madest Eve to bring us in servage*: *bondage

Thou wilt fordo* this Christian marriage: *ruin

Thine instrument so (well-away the while!)

Mak'st thou of women when thou wilt beguile.

This Soudaness, whom I thus blame and warray*, *oppose, censure

Let privily her council go their way:

Why should I in this tale longer tarry?

She rode unto the Soudan on a day,

And said him, that she would *reny her lay,* *renounce her creed*

And Christendom of priestes' handes fong*, *take<9>

Repenting her she heathen was so long;

Beseeching him to do her that honour,

That she might have the Christian folk to feast:

"To please them I will do my labour."

The Soudan said, "I will do at your hest,*" *desire

And kneeling, thanked her for that request;

So glad he was, he wist* not what to say. *knew

She kiss'd her son, and home she went her way.

Arrived be these Christian folk to land

In Syria, with a great solemne rout,

And hastily this Soudan sent his sond,* *message

First to his mother, and all the realm about,

And said, his wife was comen out of doubt,

And pray'd them for to ride again* the queen, *to meet

The honour of his regne* to sustene. *realm

Great was the press, and rich was the array

Of Syrians and Romans met *in fere*. *in company*

The mother of the Soudan rich and gay

Received her with all so glad a cheer* *face

As any mother might her daughter dear

And to the nexte city there beside