From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Wife of Bath's Prologue, lines 794-834

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Wife of Bath's Prologue
lines 794-834: Irritation, anger, a fight, deafness and a happy end

	And whan I saugh he wolde nevere fyne
795	To reden on this cursed book al nyght,
	Al sodeynly thre leves have I plyght
	Out of his book, right as he radde, and eke
	I with my fest so took hym on the cheke,
	That in oure fyr he ril bakward adoun.
800	And he up-stirte as dooth a wood leoun,
	And with his fest he smoot me on the heed
	That in the floor I lay, as I were deed.
	And whan he saugh how stille that I lay,
	He was agast, and wolde han fled his way,
805	Til atte laste out of my swogh I breyde.
	'O, hastow slayn me, false theef,' I seyde,
	'And for my land thus hastow mordred me?
	Er I be deed, yet wol I kisse thee.'

	And when I saw he'd never cease, in fine,
795	His reading in this cursed book at night,
	Three leaves of it I snatched and tore outright
	Out of his book, as he read on; and eke
	I with my fist so took him on the cheek
	That in our fire he reeled and fell right down.
800	Then he got up as does a wild lion,
	And with his fist he struck me on the head,
	And on the floor I lay as I were dead.
	And when he saw how limp and still I lay,
	He was afraid and would have run away,
805	Until at last, out of my swoon I made:
	'Oh, have you slain me, you false thief?' I said,
	'And for my land have you thus murdered me?
	Kiss me before I die, and let me be.'

	And neer he cam and kneled faire adoun,
810	And seyde, 'Deere suster Alisoun,
	As help me God, I shal thee nevere smyte.
	That I have doon, it is thyself to wyte,
	Foryeve it me, and that I thee biseke."
	And yet eftsoones I hitte hym on the cheke,
815	And seyde, 'Theef, thus muchel am I wreke;
	Now wol I dye, I may no lenger speke.'
	But atte laste, with muchel care and wo,
	We fille acorded by us selven two.
	He yaf me al the bridel in myn hond,
820	To han the governance of hous and lond,
	And of his tonge, and of his hond also,
	And made hym brenne his book anon right tho.
	And whan that I hadde geten unto me
	By maistrie, al the soveraynetee,
825	And that he seyde, 'Myn owene trewe wyf,
	Do as thee lust the terme of al thy lyf,
	Keepe thyn honour, and keep eek myn estaat,' -
	After that day we hadden never debaat.
	God help me so, I was to hym as kynde
830	As any wyf from Denmark unto Ynde,
	And also trewe, and so was he to me.
	I prey to God, that sit in magestee,
	So blesse his soule for his mercy deere.
	Now wol I seye my tale, if ye wol heere."

	He came to me and near me he knelt down,
810	And said: 'O my dear sister Alison,
	So help me God, I'll never strike you more;
	What I have done, you are to blame therefor.
	But all the same forgiveness now I seek!'
	And thereupon I hit him on the cheek,
815	And said: 'Thief, so much vengeance do I wreak!
	Now will I die; I can no longer speak!'
	But at the last, and with much care and woe,
	We made it up between ourselves. And so
	He put the bridle reins within my hand
820	To have the governing of house and land;
	And of his tongue and of his hand, also;
	And made him burn his book, right then, oho!
	And when I had thus gathered unto me
	Masterfully, the entire sovereignty,
825	And he had said: 'My own true wedded wife,
	Do as you please the term of all your life,
	Guard your own honour and keep fair my state'-
	After that day we never had debate.
	God help me now, I was to him as kind
830	As any wife from Denmark unto Ind,
	And also true, and so was he to me.
	I pray to God, Who sits in majesty,
	To bless his soul, out of His mercy dear!
	Now will I tell my tale, if you will hear."