Classic and Contemporary Poetry
COUNSEL UPON MARRIAGE, by GEOFFREY CHAUCER Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: My master bukton, when of christ our king Last Line: In fredam; for ful hard is to be bonde. Variant Title(s): Lenvoy De Chaucer A Bukton Subject(s): Marriage; Weddings; Husbands; Wives | ||||||||
My maister Bukton, whan of Crist our kyng Was axed what is trouthe or sothfastnesse, He nat a word answerde to that axing, As who saith, "No man is al trewe," I gesse. And therfore, though I highte to expresse The sorwe and wo that is in mariage, I dar not writen of it no wikkednesse, Lest I myself falle eft in swich dotage. I wol nat seyn how that yt is the cheyne Of Sathanas, on which he gnaweth evere; But I dar seyn, were he out of his peyne, As by his wille he wolde be bounde nevere. But thilke doted fool that eft hath levere Ycheyned be than out of prison crepe, God lete him never fro his wo dissevere, Ne no man him bewayle, though he wepe! But yet, lest thow do worse, take a wyf; Bet ys to wedde than brenne in worse wise. But thow shal have sorwe on thy flessh, thy lyf, And ben thy wives thral, as seyn these wise; And yf that hooly writ may nat suffyse, Experience shal the teche, so may happe, That the were lever to be take in Frise Than eft to falle of weddynge in the trappe. Envoy This lytel writ, proverbes, or figure I sende yow, take kepe of yt, I rede; Unwys is he that kan no wele endure. If thow be siker, put the nat in drede. The Wyf of Bathe I pray yow that ye rede Of this matere that we have on honde. God graunte yow your lyf frely to lede In fredam; for ful hard is to be bonde. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BLESSING FOR A WEDDING by JANE HIRSHFIELD A SUITE FOR MARRIAGE by DAVID IGNATOW ADVICE TO HER SON ON MARRIAGE by MARY BARBER THE RABBI'S SON-IN-LAW by SABINE BARING-GOULD KISSING AGAIN by DORIANNE LAUX A TIME PAST by DENISE LEVERTOV CHAUCERS WORDES UNTO ADAM, HIS OWN SCRIVEYN by GEOFFREY CHAUCER LACK OF STEADFASTNESS; BALLAD by GEOFFREY CHAUCER MERCILES BEAUTE; A TRIPLE ROUNDEL: 1. CAPTIVITY by GEOFFREY CHAUCER |
|