Original - Duke Divinity School

January and May: or The Merchant’s Tale from Chaucer 213
There liv’d in Lombardy, as Authors write,
In Days of old, a wise and worthy Knight;
Of gentle Manners, as of gen’rous Race,
Bless’d with much Sense, more Riches, and some Grace. […] 214
When sixty Years were o’er, he vow’d to wed,
And try the Pleasures of a lawful Bed.
This was his nightly Dream, his daily Care,
And to the Heavenly Powers his constant Prayer,
Once, e’re he died, to taste the blissful Life
Of a kind Husband and a loving Wife.
These Thoughts he fortified with Reasons still,
(For none want Reasons to confirm their Will.)
Grave Authors say, and witty Poets sing,
That honest Wedlock is a glorious Thing:
But Depth of Judgment most in him appears,
Who wisely weds in his maturer Years.
Then let him chuse a Damsel, Young and Fair,
To bless his Age, and bring a worthy Heir; …
The marry’d Man may bear his Yoke with Ease,
Secure at once himself and Heaven to please; […]
Tho’ Fortune change, his constant Spouse remains,
Augments his Joys, or mitigates his Pains.
But what so pure, which envious Tongues will spare?
Some wicked Wits have libell’d all the Fair.
With matchless Impudence they style a Wife,
The dear-bought Curse, and lawful Plague of Life! …
Let not the Wise these sland’rous Words regard,
But curse the Bones of ev’ry lying Bard. … 215
Our Grandsire Adam, e’re of Eve possest,
Alone, and even in Paradise unblest,
With mournful Looks the blissful Scenes surveyed,
And wandered in the solitary Shade:
The Maker saw, took pity, and bestowed
213Alexander Pope, “January and May; or The Merchant’s Tale from Chaucer,” in Dryden, ed. Miscellany,
6:29–49.
214Wesley omits:
Yet, led astray by Venus’ soft Delights, / He scarce could rule some idle Appetites:
For long ago, let Priests say what they could, / Weak, sinful Laymen were but Flesh and Blood. …
215Wesley omits:
All other Goods by Fortune’s Hand are giv’n, / A Wife is the peculiar Gift of Heav’n: …
136