Against Women Unconstant

The Canterbury Tales and Other Works of Chaucer (Middle English), by Geoffery Chaucer, [14th cent.], at sacred-texts.com

The Shorter Poems

Against Women Unconstant

 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 impresse,
 But, lightly as it cometh, so mot it pace,
10 So fareth your love, your werkes beren 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;
20 Al light for somer (ye woot wel what I mene),
 In stede of blew, thus may ye were al grene.