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This knyght, of which my tale is specially, |
| 990 | Whan that he saugh he myghte nat come therby, |
| This is to seye, what wommen love moost, |
| Withinne his brest ful sorweful was the goost. |
| But hoom he gooth, he myghte nat sojourne; |
| The day was come that homward moste he tourne. |
| 995 | And in his wey it happed hym to ryde, |
| In al this care under a forest syde, |
| Wher as he saugh upon a daunce go |
| Of ladyes foure and twenty, and yet mo; |
| Toward the whiche daunce he drow ful yerne, |
| 1000 | In hope that som wysdom sholde he lerne. |
| But certeinly, er he came fully there, |
| Vanysshed was this daunce, he nyste where. |
| No creature saugh he that bar lyf, |
| Save on the grene he saugh sittynge a wyf - |
| 1005 | A fouler wight ther may no man devyse. |
| Agayn the knyght this olde wyf gan ryse, |
| And seyde, "Sire knyght, heer forth ne lith no wey. |
| Tel me what that ye seken, by your fey! |
| Paraventure it may the bettre be, |
| 1010 | Thise olde folk kan muchel thyng," quod she. |
| "My leeve mooder," quod this knyght, "certeyn |
| I nam but deed, but if that I kan seyn |
| What thyng it is, that wommen moost desire. |
| Koude ye me wisse, I wolde wel quite youre hire." |
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This knight my tale is chiefly told about |
| 990 | When what he went for he could not find out, |
| That is, the thing that women love the best, |
| Most saddened was the spirit in his breast; |
| But home he goes, he could no more delay. |
| The day was come when home he turned his way; |
| 995 | And on his way it chanced that he should ride |
| In all his care, beneath a forest's side, |
| And there he saw, a-dancing him before, |
| Full four and twenty ladies, maybe more; |
| Toward which dance eagerly did he turn |
| 1000 | In hope that there some wisdom he should learn. |
| But truly, before he came upon them there, |
| The dancers vanished all, he knew not where. |
| No creature saw he that gave sign of life, |
| Except, on the greensward sitting, an old wife; |
| 1005 | A fouler person could no man devise. |
| Before the knight this old wife did arise, |
| And said: "Sir knight, hence lies no travelled way. |
| Tell me what thing you seek, and by your fay. |
| Perchance you'll find it may the better be; |
| 1010 | These ancient folk know many things," said she. |
| "Dear mother," said this knight assuredly, |
| "I am as good as dead, unless I can tell, truly, |
| What thing it is that women most desire; |
| Could you inform me, I'd pay well your hire." |
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