Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AGAINST WOMEN UNCONSTANT by GEOFFREY CHAUCER

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: MADAME, FOR YOUR NEWFANGLENESS
Last Line: IN STEDE OF BLEW, THUS MAY YE WERE AL GRENE.
Subject(s): UNFAITHFULNESS; INFIDELITY; ADULTERY; INCONSTANCY;
MADAME, for your newefangelnesse,
Many a servaunt have ye put out of grace.
I take my leve of your unstedfastnesse,
For wel I wot, whyl ye have lyves space,
Ye can not love ful half yeer in a place,
To newe thing your lust is ay so kene;
In stede of blew, thus may ye were al grene.

Right as a mirour nothing may enpresse,
But, lightly as it cometh, so mot it pace,
So fareth your love, your werkes bereth witnesse.
Ther is no feith that may your herte enbrace;
But, as a wedercok, that turneth his face
With every wind, ye fare, and that is sene;
In stede of blew, thus may ye were al grene.

Ye might be shryned, for your brotelnesse,
Bet than Dalyda, Creseyde or Candace;
For ever in chaunging stant your sikernesse;
That tache may no wight fro your herte arace.
If ye lese oon, ye can wel tweyn purchace;
Al light for somer, ye woot wel what I mene,
In stede of blew, thus may ye were al grene.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net