Chaucerian and Other Pieces: Being a Supplement to the Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer
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Chaucerian and Other Pieces: Being a Supplement to the Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer
Chaucer, Geoffrey, -1400
'Thou shalt,' quod she, 'understande that [of] one of three
lyves (as I first sayd) every creature of mankynde is sprongen,
and so forth procedeth. These lyves ben thorow names departed
in three maner of kyndes, as bestialliche, manliche, and resonabliche; 10
of whiche two ben used by flesshely body, and the thirde
by his soule. "Bestial" among resonables is forboden in every
lawe and every secte, bothe in Cristen and other; for every
wight dispyseth hem that liveth by lustes and delytes, as him
that is thral and bounden servaunt to thinges right foule; suche 15
ben compted werse than men; he shal nat in their degree ben
rekened, ne for suche one alowed. Heritykes, sayn they, chosen
lyf bestial, that voluptuously liven; so that (as I first sayde to
thee) in manly and resonable livinges our mater was to declare;
but [by] "manly" lyfe, in living after flesshe, or els flesshly wayes 20
to chese, may nat blisse in this knotte be conquered, as by reson
it is proved. Wherfore by "resonable" lyfe he must nedes it
have, sithe a way is to this knotte, but nat by the firste tway lyves;
wherfore nedes mot it ben to the thirde; and for to live in flesshe,
but nat after flessh, is more resonablich than manliche rekened 25
by clerkes. Therfore how this way cometh in, I wol it blythely
declare.
See now (quod she) that these bodily goodes of manliche
livinges yelden +sorowfulle stoundes and smertande houres. Who-so
+wol remembre him to their endes, in their worchinges they 30
ben thoughtful and sorie. Right as a bee that hath had his hony,
anon at his flight beginneth to stinge; so thilke bodily goodes at
the laste mote awaye, and than stinge they at her goinge, wherthrough
entreth and clene voydeth al blisse of this knot.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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