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Chaucer'S 'Tale Of Melibee': Its Tradition And Its Function In Fragment Vii Of The 'Canterbury Tales'

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Chaucer'S 'Tale Of Melibee': Its Tradition And Its Function In Fragment Vii Of The 'Canterbury Tales'

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Content This dissertation has been
microfilmed exactly as received ^ 4 5 2 1
CHRISTMAS, Robert Alan, 1939-
CHAUCERT S TALE OF MELIBEE: ITS TRADITION
AND ITS FUNCTION IN FRAGMENT VII OF THE
CANTERBURY TALES.
U niversity of Southern California, Ph.D ., 1968
Language and Literature, cla ssic a l
University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan
CHAUCER'S TALE OF MELIBEE
ITS TRADITION AND ITS FUNCTION IN FRAGMENT V II OF
THE CANTERBURY TAPES
by
R o b e rt Alan C h ristm as
A D i s s e r t a t i o n P r e s e n te d to th e
FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In P a r t i a l F u l f i l l m e n t o f th e
R equirem en ts f o r th e Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(E n g lish )
June 1968
UNIVERSITY O F SOU THERN CALIFORNIA
TH E GRADUATE SCHOO L
UNIVERSITY PARK
LOS ANGELES, CA LIFO RN IA 9 0 0 0 7
This dissertation, written by
under the direction of his.....Dissertation Gom
been presented to and accepted by the Graduate
Schoolj in partial fulfillment of requirements
for the degree of
PH ILO SO PH Y
,-B.QbfixJt.AlarL.Chj:iafema.s.
mittee, and approved by all its members} has
t
Dean
DISSERTAT
Chairman
^ 2
D e d ic a te d
t o my g r a n d f a t h e r / A l f r e d J . H u e k e tt
In memorium
i i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
C h a p te r
I , BEARINGS...................... ' . 1
I I . THE TALE OF MELIBEE AND ITS
TRADITION .................................................... 20
I I I . THE TALE OF MELIBEE AND THE
QUESTION OF M A S T E R Y ................................................................. 66
IV. THE TALE OF MELIBEE, SIR THOPAS,
AND THEIR L I N K S .......................................................................... 92
V. THE TALE OF MELIBEE IN FRAGMENT V II
OF THE CANTERBURY T A L E S ...........................................................119
V I. CON CLU SION S............................................................................................l 4 l
LIST OF WORKS C I T E D ........................................................................................... 144
CHAPTER I
BEARINGS
Most d i s c u s s i o n s o f C h a u c e r ’ s T a le o f M e lib e e b e g in
w i t h an a d m is s io n so damaging t h a t i t w ould a lm o s t a p p e a r
to p r e c l u d e any s t u d y o f th e t a l e i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e . The
Melibee., a lm o st e v ery b o d y a d m i t s , i s d u l l , p e r h a p s th e
l e a s t i n t e r e s t i n g and m ost l a c k in g i n l i t e r a r y q u a l i t i e s
o f a l l o f th e C a n te r b u r y T a l e s . W. P. K e r ’s a s s e s s m e n t
i s t y p i c a l :
The T a le o f M e lib e u s i s p e r h a p s th e w o r s t exam ple t h a t
c o u ld b e found o f a l l th e i n t e l l e c t u a l and l i t e r a r y v i c e s
o f th e M iddle A g es— b a t h o s , f o r c e d a l l e g o r y , s p i r i t l e s s
and i n t e r m i n a b l e m o r a l i z i n g . , . beyond r i v a l r y f o r i t s
e n jo y m en t o f t h e r a n k e s t com m onplaces. T here i s glow
and u n c t i o n a b o u t i t s m e d i o c r i t y ; t h e i n t o l e r a b l e a r g u
m ents o f Dame P ru d en ce a r e a m a s t e r p i e c e , a s th o u g h
w r i t t e n i n an o r g y and e n th u s ia s m o f f l a t n e s s and i n
s i p i d i t y . 1
And th e v e r d i c t w ould seem to be unanim ous i n th e e a r l y
y e a r s o f t h i s c e n t u r y . R. D. F re n c h c a l l e d t h e t a l e
p
" C h a u c e r’ s l i t e r a r y s i n " ; R. K. R oot ad d ed , "The modern
r e a d e r h a s d o u b t l e s s been b o r e d by t h e m o r a l i z i n g t a l e o f
'''E n g l i s h P r o s e , e d . H enry C r a ik , I (London, 1893) j ^2.
2A C h au cer Handbook (New Y ork, 1 9 2 9 ) j p . 246.
2
M elib eu s, i f in d e e d he has n o t sk ip p e d i t o u t r i g h t ” and
Lounsbury d e l i v e r e d t h i s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e d e ath -b lo w i n 1892:
I inhere a re two p r o s e p i e c e s in c lu d e d i n th e ’C a n te r
b u ry T a l e s ' — th e t a l e o f M elibeu s, and th e P a r s o n ’s t a l e ;
and n o t o n ly a re th e y th e l e a s t read., th e y a re th e l e a s t
w orth r e a d in g . . . . The t a l e o f M elibeus i s v e ry much i n
th e n a tu r e o f th o s e im p o s itio n s t h a t some modern n o v e ls
have made f a m i l i a r to a l l o f u s , i n w hich, when we a sk
f o r b re a d i n th e shape o f a s t o r y , we g e t a sto n e i n th e
I shape o f a serm on.4
“Sometimes th e h y p e rb o le s o f th e c r i t i c s have more l i t e r a r y
;q u a l i t y — a t l e a s t m elodrama— th a n th e M elibee i t s e l f . ■ I
q u o te from th e opening o f th e t a l e :
A yong man c a l l e d M elibeus, myghty and r i c h e , b e g a t
upon h i s wyf, t h a t c a l l e d was P rudence, a d o g h te r which
t h a t c a l l e d was S o p h i e . /
Upon a day b i f e l t h a t he f o r h i s d e s p o r t i s went i n t o
th e feeld eB hym to p l e y e . / H is wyf and eek h i s d o g h te r
h a th he l e f t i n w i t h ' h i s h o u s, o f which th e d o re s weren
f a s t e y s h e t t e . / Thre o f h i s o ld e fo e s han i t espyed, and
s e t t e n l a d d r e s to th e w a lle s o f h i s hous, and by wyndowes
been e n t r e d , / and b e t t e n h i s wyf, and wounded h i s d o g h te r
w ith fyve m o rta l woundes i n fyve sondry p l a c e s , —/ t h i s
i s to seyn, i n h i r f e e t , i n h i r e h a n d es, i n h i r e r y s , i n
h i r n o se , and i n h i r e m o u th ,--a n d l e f t e n h i r e f o r deed,
and wenten a w e y ./
Whan M elibeus r e to u r n e d was i n to h i s h o u s, and saugh
a l t h i s m e s c h ie f, h e , ly k a mad man, re n ty n g e h i s
c l o t h e s , gan to wepe and c r i e . 5
The p a ssa g e i s smooth and c l e a r , w ith r a t h e r obvious
I b i b l i c a l o v e rto n e s . I t re a d s l i k e a c om binatio n o f th e
|p a r a b l e o f th e Good S am aritan ("and l e f t e n h i r e f o r deed,
i
^The P o e try o f Chaucer, r e v . ed. (New Y ork, 1922), p .
| 2 0 3 .
^ S tu d ie s i n C h au cer, I (New York, 1 8 9 2) , 2 0 5- 2 0 6.
| ^"The T ale o f M e lib e e ," i n F. N. R obinson, e d , , The
Works o f G e o ffre y C haucer, 2nd ed. (B oston, 1957) j V II ,
967-973♦ The t e x t w i l l be q u o ted from t h i s e d i t i o n u n l e s s
o th e rw is e n o te d , w ith p ro s e l i n e numbers i n p a r e n t h e s e s .
3
and wenten aw ey"), and th e Book o f Job ( "ren ty n g e h i s
c l o t h e s '') . Beyond t h i s , how ever, i t c o n ta in s l i t t l e t h a t
j w i l l a p p e a l to modern r e a d e r s . I t i s h a r d ly r e a l i s t i c ;
| we do n o t see th e b lo o d on th e s to n e s o r h e a r th e women
j
| scream . The names o f th e c h a r a c t e r s t u r n o u t to be sym-
! b o l i e , and th e work i t s e l f m ere ly a t r a n s l a t i o n .
I t must a ls o be a d m itte d t h a t th e s e opening p a r a -
ig ra p h s a re n o t s t r i c t l y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f th e t a l e a s a
; w hole. By modern s ta n d a r d s th e r e s t i s much w orse. There
i s p ro b a b ly more " a c tio n " i n th e p a ra g r a p h s j u s t qu o ted
; th an i n a l l o f th e r e s t combined. Here i s a t y p i c a l
; sam ple o f what fo llo w s :
And t h e r f o r e s e i t h T u l l i u s , 'E ncly ne n a t thyne e r e s
to f l a t e r e r e s , ne ta a k no c o n s e i l o f th e wordes o f
f l a t e r y e . ' / And Caton s e i t h , 'Avyse th e e w el, and es~
chue th e wordes o f sw etn esse and o f p l e s a u n e e . ' / And
eek thou s h a l t eschue th e c o n s e i l ly n g o f thyne o ld e
enemys t h a t been r e c o n s i l e d . / The book s e i t h t h a t 'no
w ight r e t o u r n e t h s a u f l y i n t o th e g ra c e o f h i s o ld e
e n e m y .' / And Iso p e s e i t h , 'Ne t r u s t n a t to hem to
i whiche thou h a s t had som tyme w erre o r enem ytee, ne t e l l e
hem n a t th y c o n s e i l . ' / And Seneca t e l l e t h th e cause
I why: ' I t may n a t b e , ' s e i t h h e , ' t h a t where g r e e t f y r
h a th longe tyme e ndu red , t h a t t h e r ne d w e lle th som v a
p o u r o f w a rm n e ss e .' / And t h e r e f o r e s e i t h Salomon . - . .
( V I I . 1180-1186)
T his i s what p a s s e s f o r d ia lo g u e i n th e M e lib e e ;
!a u t h o r i t i e s a r e c i t e d one a f t e r a n o th e r by means o f v a r i a -
!
| t i o n s on th e fo rm u la , "And b la n k s a y e t h ." In th e co u rse
|o f t h i s long c o n v e r s a tio n betw een M elibeus and h i s w if e ,
j
Dame P rudence, th e fo rm er i s p e rs u a d e d to fo re g o a war o f
rev en g e t h a t he i s p la n n in g a g a i n s t th e t h r e e "old e fo e s "
who b r o k e i n t o h i s h o u s e , b e a t h i s w i f e , and wounded h i s
d a u g h t e r . A long t h e way, h e , and we, r e c e i v e t h i s k in d
o f i n s t r u c t i o n on th e t e c h n i q u e s o f c o u n s e l , th e b e n e f i t s
o f p e a c e a s o p p o se d to th e e v i l s o f w a r, t h e e x c e l l e n c e o f
w i f e l y wisdom , and th e v i r t u e s o f f o r g i v e n e s s and r e c o n -
c i l i a t i o n - - w h i c h a r e i n f a c t b r o u g h t a b o u t a t t h e e n d .
Only a few h av e ta k e n i s s u e w i t h th e g e n e r a l p h i l o s o p h y
o f t h e t a l e . I t i s th e form t h a t a n n o y sj p e r h a p s th e
a t t r a c t i v e th em es r e i n f o r c e o u r p r e j u d i c e a g a i n s t i t .
B u t eno ugh . W hile m ost c r i t i c i s m o f th e T a le o f
M e lib e e b e g i n s i n t h e n e g a t i v e , i t u s u a l l y ends up some
w here e l s e ; and t h i s s t u d y w i l l be no e x c e p t i o n . I n view
o f C h a u c e r 's e x t r a o r d i n a r y t a l e n t , and t h e f a c t t h a t th e
t a l e a p p e a r s i n a work o f su c h o b v io u s e x c e l l e n c e a s th e
C a n te r b u r y T a l e s , i t i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g t o f i n d t h e c r i t i c s
a s k i n g a few w hys, a t t e m p t i n g to q u a l i f y , h e d g e , o r u n d e r
s t a n d t h e i r own p r e j u d i c e s . T here i s a ro u g h p a t t e r n i n
th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f t h i s M e lib e e c r i t i c i s m o v e r th e y e a r s ,
and a b r i e f r e v ie w o f i t s m a jo r a s p e c t s w i l l s e r v e a s t h e
b e s t b a s i s and j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r f u r t h e r s t u d y .
One o f th e e a r l i e s t - - a n d s t i l l p o p u l a r - - p r o p o s a l s i s
t h a t i n r e a d i n g t h e M e lib e e we s h o u ld s c r a p s o - c a l l e d
modern t a s t e s a l t o g e t h e r . J . S. P. T a t l o c k i s r e p r e s e n t a
t i v e :
A g a in , th o u g h t h e s a y i n g s o f d ead w i s e a c r e s i n M e lib e u s
seem to u s u n s p e a k a b ly t r i t e and d r y , a l l t h e l i t e r a t u r e
o f th e M iddle Ages p r o v e s t h a t th e y to o k a d i f f e r e n t
view o f such t h i n g s . T here was a tim e when e v e r y common
p l a c e was f r e s h and s t a r t l i n g ; t h e M idd le Ages fo u n d
m e n ta l s t i m u l u s i n v e r y o b v io u s t r u t h s * and a p e r p e t u a l
r e l i s h i n t h e gnomic style.°
| T a t lo c k c a l l s f o r a " f r a n k r e c o g n i t i o n o f C h a u c e r 's m e d i-
j e v a l s i d e " (p . 1 9 l ) j and W. W. L aw rence h a s a d d ed t h a t t h e
; M e lib e e " o f f e r s an u n r i v a l e d o p p o r t u n i t y f o r s t u d y i n g
c h an g e s i n l i t e r a r y t a s t e .
" U n r iv a le d o p p o r t u n i t y " ? I t w ould a p p e a r t h a t th e
h y p e r b o l e s o f c r i t i c a l s c o r n can be c o n v e r t e d d i r e c t l y
i n t o p r a i s e j i f we a p p ro a c h t h e work from th e s t a n d p o i n t
o f l i t e r a r y h i s t o r y * p l a c e i t i n i t s own tim e an d t r a d i
tio n * and r e a d i t l i k e m e d ie v a l p e o p l e . T h is v ie w i s good
m e d ic in e f o r moderns* b u t i t h a s i t s l i m i t s . I t can l e a d
| to a d e a d -e n d a s s u m p tio n t h a t C h a u ce r t r a n s l a t e d th e M e li-
: b ee and i n c l u d e d i t among th e C a n te r b u r y T a l e s s im p ly b e -
. c a u se r e a d e r s l i k e d t h a t s o r t o f t h i n g . We h a v e n e a t l y
b y - p a s s e d th e p ro b le m o f th e s t y l e * b u t i n q u i r y h a s been
s i m p l i f i e d a lm o s t o u t o f e x i s t e n c e . T h is k in d o f l i t e r
a t u r e was p o p u l a r — amen. T h is k i n d o f t h i n k i n g h a s r e
s u l t e d i n a c r i t i c a l c o n d e s c e n s io n t o C h au cer w h e n e v e r th e
T a le o f M e lib e e comes u p . W. P. Ker w r i t e s a r o u n d th e
; p ro b le m t h i s way:
^ The D evelopm ent and C h ro n o lo g y o f C h a u c e r 's Works
j (London* 1907)* p p . I 8 9 - 1 9 0 .
VS'The i]ia ]_e Qf M e lib e u s* " E s s a y s and S t u d i e s i n Honor
; o f C a r l e t o n Brown (New York* 1940)* p p . 1 0 1- 1 0 2 .
The p e c u l i a r i t y o f C haucer i s t h a t w ith a l l h i s p r o g r e s s
i n h i s a r t he k e p t c lo s e to th e g e n e r a l sense o f h i s age,
and had always., i n some c o rn e r o f h i s being., th e av erag e
I mind o f th e f o u r t e e n t h c e n tu r y . To t h a t p a r t o f him b e
long a l l h i s p ro s e w orks. The Tale o f M elibeus i s r e p
r e s e n t a t i v e o f th e i d e a s and t a s t e s o f m i l l i o n s o f good
s o u l s . Being r e p r e s e n t s f i v e , i t c o u ld n o t be a l i e n from
C haucer. (E n g lis h P r o s e , p . 42)
: The T ale o f M elibee, th e n , i s m ere ly " a v e r a g e ," som ething
; from an o b sc u re c o rn e r o f C h a u c e r's b e in g . Good s o u ls w i l l
; l i k e i t . L i t t l e wonder t h a t no th o ro u g h s tu d y o f th e t a l e
and i t s t r a d i t i o n h as e v e r been u n d e rta k e n .
B ut t h i s same p re m ise o f d u l l n e s s h a s l e d some c r i t i c s
i n an o p p o s ite d i r e c t i o n , to th e c o n c lu s io n t h a t such a
p o o r t a l e i s l i k e l y to be f u l l o f f a l s e d o c t r i n e , and i s
hence n o t " r e p r e s e n t a t i v e " o f i t s tim e. Raymond P re s to n
■ h a s a tte m p te d to show how c lo s e Dame Prudence comes to
Q
making a "compact w ith S a ta n " ; P a u l i Baum c i t e s th e M eli
bee 1s " c a r d i n a l w eakness, which i s n o t th e e x te n t b u t th e
ii 9
f a l s i t y o f i t s m o r a liz in g " ;- ' and George H. Cowling c a l l s
i t "a f e e b l e t r a c t , c o lo u re d by a q u a k e r - l ik e h a t r e d o f
war and a s tro n g a d m ir a tio n f o r fem in in e wisdom, w hich, in
; i t s love o f prudence comes p r e c i o u s l y n e a r e x a l t i n g e x
p e d i e n c y o v e r r i g h t ." 10 The d i f f i c u l t y f o r th e s tu d e n t o f
| to d ay l i e s i n th e f a c t t h a t n e i t h e r th o se who see th e t a l e
i o
Chaucer (London and New Y ork, 1952), p . 215.
i ^C haucer: A C r i t i c a l A p p r e c ia tio n (Durham, 1958), -p.
I 80.
I 10Chaucer (New York, 1927), p . 1 6 2.
a s d u l l b u t t y p i c a l l y m edieval., n o r th o s e who s e e i t as
d u l l and m o r a lly c o n t r a d i c t o r y , have ta k e n tim e to p r e s e n t
t h e i r c a s e s i n d e t a i l . The o p i n io n — i t can h a r d l y be
c a l l e d c r i t i c i s m - - h a s o f t e n been la u n c h e d from one o r two
p a g e s o f g e n e r a l commentary, and l e f t to g a t h e r a d h e r e n ts
w i l l y - n i l l y .
A noth er e a r l y p o s i t i o n on th e t a l e , and one t h a t h a s
b een more c o m p le te ly a r t i c u l a t e d , i s J . L e s l i e H o ts o n ’ s
s u g g e s tio n ’’t h a t th e M elibeu s i s a p o l i t i c a l t r a c t , d e
s ig n e d to d is s u a d e John o f Gaunt from la u n c h in g on th e
in v a s io n o f C a s t i l e , i n 1 3 8 6 ," 1'1 ' In a long a r t i c l e , H ot-
son a tt e m p t s to show t h a t th e t a l e i s a p o l i t i c a l a l l e g o r y ,
w ith M elibeus sy m b o liz in g John o f G aunt, Prudence as
G a u n t’s " b e t t e r se n se ( o r p e rh a p s t h a t o f K a th e r in e Swyn-
f o r d ) ," and M e lib e u s 1s t h r e e o ld fo e s a s t h r e e enem ies o f
G aunt—E n riq u e , du G u e s c lin , and Mauni—who had m urdered
G a u n t’s f a t h e r - i n - l a w , Pedro o f C a s t i l e , i n 1369 (pp. 437-
4 3 8 ) . Prom 1386 to 1388 Gaunt was i n S p ain on an u n s u c
c e s s f u l m is s io n to assume th e t i t l e o f King o f C a s t i l e and
Leon. At th e same tim e Chaucer l o s t h i s p o s i t i o n s i n th e
Customs S e r v ic e and a p p a r e n t l y h a d to s e l l h i ’ s p e n s io n f o r
f o r t y m arks. H otson assum es t h a t C haucer "must have f o r e
seen th e d i s a s t e r w hich would i n e v i t a b l y f o llo w John o f
i:i"The T ale o f M elibeu s and John o f G a u n t," SP, 18
( 1 9 2 1) , 430.
G a u n t1s p lu n g e I n t o p r i v a t e w a r , " and he t r a n s l a t e d th e
12
M ellhee a s a w arning to h i s p a t r o n (p . 4 3 5 ).
These e a r l y c r i t i c s o f th e M elibee te n d to t r e a t th e
t a l e a s i f i t s to o d a lo n e , and to make v i r t u a l l y n o th in g
o f th e f a c t t h a t i t i s a p a r t o f th e C a n te rb u ry T a l e s . I t
i s seen a s a t y p i c a l — o r f a u l t y — example o f m e d ie v a l mor
a l i z i n g , o r a s a p o l i t i c a l a l l e g o r y w hich Chaucer p u t to
p e r s o n a l u s e . T h is te n d e n c y was a lm o st c e r t a i n l y th e
r e s u l t o f e a r l y view s on th e d a te o f th e t a l e ' s com posi
t i o n . As R obinson p o i n t s o u t , "S k e at h e ld th e t a l e to have
been w r i t t e n e a r l y ( 1 3 7 2- 1 3 7 7) and a f t e r w a r d s r e v i s e d " and
p l a c e d i n th e C a n te rb u ry T a le s ( 1 3 8 7 - 1 4 0 0 ) .^ j n o t h e r
w o rd s, th e T ale o f M elibee was seen a s a work o r i g i n a l l y
t r a n s l a t e d to s ta n d a lo n e , l i k e C h a u c e r’ s Boece, and l a t e r
i n c l u d e d i n th e C a n te rb u ry T a l e s . The c r i t i c s , n o t l i k i n g
i t , and n o t f i n d i n g any p a r t i c u l a r r e a s o n s f o r i t s i n
c l u s i o n among th e t a l e s , q u i t e n a t u r a l l y so u g h t to e x p la in
i t i n term s t h a t w ere l i m i t e d to th e t a l e i t s e l f . I t s
a x io m a tic d u l l n e s s was a n ■a d d i t i o n a l c o n f ir m a tio n o f th e
p r a c t i c e . We a r e s t i l l In th e h a b i t o f s a y in g --s o m e tim e s
12
F or o b j e c t i o n s to and q u a l i f i c a t i o n s o f H o ts o n ’s
c o n c l u s i o n s , see W. W. L aw rence, "The T ale o f M e l ib e u s ,"
p p . 100-101, 109; G a rd in e r S t i l l w e l l , "The P o l i t i c a l Mean-
in g o f C h a u c e r 's T ale o f M e l i b e e , " Speculum , XIX (1 9 4 4 ),
433 -4 44; and George W illia m s , A New View o f C haucer (D ur
ham, 1955).
^^Works, p . 741.
c o r r e c t l y - - t h a t th e w eaker t a l e s i n th e C a n te rb u ry group
were w r i t t e n e arly * and p lu g g ed i n l a t e r - - l i k e tr u n k songs.
T his k in d o f M elibee c r i t i c i s m i s by no means w o rth -
|l e s s * b u t i t i s alw ays incom plete* and th e re a so n i s
; sim p le: th e T ale o f M elibee i s a p a r t o f th e C an te rb u ry
i T a le s , and th e r e i s no e sc a p in g th e f a c t . I t a p p e a rs
along w ith tw e n ty - th r e e o t h e r t a l e s in p e rh a p s th e most
: s o p h i s t i c a t e d o f a l l m ed iev al f r a m e - n a r r a t i v e s . I t i s
: p r e s e n t e d a s a d ra m a tic monologue spoken by Chaucer th e
p ilg r im ] i t i s su rro u n d ed by l i n k i n g v e r s e s which d e s c r ib e
: a d ra m a tic exchange betw een t h i s p i l g r i m and H arry B a illy *
th e Host o f the C a n te rb u ry jo u rn e y . The T ale o f M elib ee,
we find* i s n o t Chaucer th e p i l g r i m 's f i r s t ch oice f o r th e
t e l l i n g . He t e l l s i t o n ly a f t e r th e Host r e f u s e s to l e t
him c o n tin u e h i s T ale o f S i r T hopas. The M elibee i s p r e f
ace d by an e x p la n a tio n o f i t s q u a l i t i e s by th e p ilg rim *
and followe'd by a b o i s t e r o u s r e a c t i o n from th e H o st. I t
i s p a r t o f a larg e* u n i f i e d fragm ent o f s i x t a l e s which
a r e th em selv es lin k e d by d ra m a tic exchanges betw een th e
; p i l g r i m s . Beyond t h i s l i e o t h e r t a l e s and l i n k s — th e f u l l -
; n e s s o f th e work. What we a re sa y in g i s t h a t th e T ale o f
1 M elibee i s p a r t o f a l a r g e r l i t e r a r y s t r u c t u r e which ap
p e a r s to have been assem bled w ith e x a c tin g care* and t h a t
I t h a t no c r i t i c i s m o f th e M elibee can c la im to be compre-
j
j . h e n siv e u n l e s s i t d e a ls w ith th e t a l e i n t h i s c o n t e x t . A ll
| o f the fo llo w in g c r i t i c s attem p t* i n one way o r ano th er*
10
to ta k e t h i s c o n te x t i n t o a c c o u n t. T hat some o f th e s e
c r i t i c s have a l r e a d y heen m en tio n ed i n c o n n e c tio n w ith
i
! view s on th e M elibee a s i f i t s to o d a lo n e s h o u ld n o t be
; seen a s an i n c o n s i s t e n c y i n t h e i r t h i n k i n g o r o u r su rv e y
ie re . The emergence o f a c o n t e x t u a l and f a i r l y cornpre-
i h e n s iv e c r i t i c i s m o f th e T ale o f M elibee h a s been a g r a d u a l
: p ro cess., w ith two o r t h r e e p o s s i b l e p o i n t s o f d e p a r t u r e
e x i s t i n g s i d e by s i d e — e s p e c i a l l y i n th e m ost im a g in a tiv e
and i n f l u e n t i a l o f th e e a r l y c r i t i c s .
One o f th e f i r s t s u g g e s t i o n s made a lo n g t h e s e l i n e s
was t h a t th e M e lib e e — b e c a u se i t i s so d u l l — m ust be
" C h a u c e r's r e v e n g e ." As M ather p u t i t i n 1899, "C haucer,
c u t o f f i n th e m id d le o f h i s Rime o f S i r Thopas, avenges
lii
h i m s e l f by t e l l i n g th e v e ry d u l l p r o s e t a l e o f M e lib e u s.
In o t h e r w ords, th e H ost h a s r e f u s e d to l e t C haucer con
t i n u e S i r T hopasj and to g e t e v en , C haucer d e l i b e r a t e l y
s u b j e c t s h i s h e a r e r s to th e M e lib e e, T h is view c o n t r a s t s
s h a r p ly w ith a t l e a s t two o f th e p o s i t i o n s a l r e a d y d i s
c u s s e d . F i r s t , i t assum es t h a t Chaucer knew t h a t th e t a l e
i s i n f e r i o r , and d i d n ' t l i k e i t - - w h l c h i m p l i e s t h a t C haucer
h a d , to some e x t e n t , modern t a s t e . Second, i t s u g g e s ts
| t h a t C haucer c o u ld n o t have ta k e n a s u f f i c i e n t i n t e r e s t r i n
j th e t a l e to j u s t i f y H o ts o n 's r e a d i n g i t a s an a l l e g o r y o f
I p e r s o n a l i t i e s and e v e n t s t h a t m ust have c o n c e rn e d Chaucer
|
i
|
; ^ C h a u c e r 's P ro lo g u e (B o sto n , 189 9 ). Quoted by T a t-
j l o c k , Developm ent and C hronology, p . 1 8 9 .
11
v e ry much. From t h i s s t a n d p o i n t , C hancer u s e d th e t a l e a s
I
|m e re ly a means to an end! re v e n g e . T h is view had f a i r l y
i wide a c c e p ta n c e around th e t u r n o f th e c e n t u r y , and s t i l l
: l i n g e r s to d a y . F or exam ple, th e h i s t o r i a n G. G. C oulto n
!w ro te t h a t t h e M elibee i s "no d o u b t a f u r t h e r s t r o k e o f
: s a t i r e ( i n r e l a t i o n to S i r T h o p a s), and Chaucer m ust have
; f e l t h i m s e l f amply avenged i n r e c o u n t in g t h i s s t o r y to th e
b i t t e r e n d . " '^ J u s t who r e c e i v e s t h e s e " s t r o k e s " i s n o t
o f t e n made c l e a r by th e s e w r i t e r s . C e r t a i n l y H a rry B a i l l y
i s i m p l i e d —he c u ts C haucer o f f , so to sp e a k . B ut by
making no r e a l d i s t i n c t i o n betw een Chaucer th e p o e t and
C haucer th e p i l g r i m , t h e s e c r i t i c s im p ly t h a t th e r e s t o f
th e p i l g r i m s — and th e r e a d e r — come i n f o r i t to o . The
T ale o f M elibee i s a p e n a l t y f o r H a rry and a p e n a l t y f o r
u s . The m ost c u r i o u s t h in g a b o u t t h i s p o s i t i o n i s t h a t
re v e n g e i s p r e c i s e l y th e t h i n g t h a t th e t a l e aim s to p r e -
|v e n t ; and t h a t i t i s r i g h t a t th e " b i t t e r end" o f th e t a l e
: t h a t th e b e n e f i t s o f f o r g i v e n e s s r e c e i v e t h e i r f u l l e s t
t r e a t m e n t . O v e r a l l , t h i s p o s i t i o n a p p e a rs to be b a s e d on
a c o m b in a tio n o f a v e ry h ig h o p in io n o f C h a u c e rTs a b i l i t y
' and a v e ry low o p in io n o f th e M e lib e e . By assum ing t h a t
! t h i s t e d i o u s t a l e i s b e in g u se d f o r a p u rp o se e n t i r e l y
I
jo pp osed to i t s m essage, C h a u c e r's g e n iu s s u f f e r s no damage,
; and t h e c r i t i c m a i n t a i n s h i s e q u i l i b r i u m . B ut th e main
r
[
^ C h a u c e r and H is E n g lan d (London, 19 0 8 ), p . 157*
12
p o i n t to n o t i c e — and r e j o i c e I n — I s t h a t th e t a l e I s b e in g
c o n s id e r e d i n r e l a t i o n to i t s c o n te x t.
C lo s e ly r e l a t e d to t h i s i s ¥ . P. K e r 's rem ark t h a t
"som etim es one i s tem pted to t h i n k t h a t th e T ale o f M e li
beus i s a m isch iev o u s companion o f th e Rime o f S i r Thopas,
and meant to paro d y a worse k in d o f 'd r a s t y s p e e c h 1" (Eng
l i s h P r o s e , p . 40) . Ker im m e d ia te ly l a b e l e d h i s s u g g e s tio n
as " d e s p e r a t e ," and a s s ig n e d th e t a l e - - a s we have s a i d — to
th e "av e rag e " c o rn e r o f C h a u c e r's mind. But th e seed was
sown, and th e Thopas-M elibee p a i r i n g i s o f t e n c o n s id e r e d
to be a t o u r - d e - f o r c e i n which two o f th e w o rst exam ples
o f m ed iev a l s t y l e — th e ta il- r h y m e romance and th e d i d a c t i c
t r e a t i s e - - a r e p a r o d ie d . The vengeance, i n o t h e r w ords, i s
n o t on p e o p le b u t on ty p e s o f l i t e r a t u r e ; and th e r e a d e r
can be amused and e n li g h t e n e d by w a tc h in g . P a u li Baum has
r e c e n t l y . w r i t t e n :
The langu age o f K e r 's d e s p e r a te s u g g e s tio n may be too
s tr o n g , b u t i t p o i n t s a d i r e c t i o n . Chaucer c o u ld s t i l l
be m ed iev a l enough to have t r a n s l a t e d Le L iv re de M e li
bee w ith a p p ro v in g e n th u sia sm and a t th e same tim e when
he t h r u s t h i s t r a n s l a t i o n i n t o th e C a n te rb u ry T a le s he
c o u ld have f e l t s u f f i c i e n t l y em ergent and ' a p a r t ' to
r e c o g n iz e some o f i t s 'b a th o s , fo r c e d a l l e g o r y , s p i r i t
l e s s and i n te r m in a b le m o r a l iz i n g ' and u se i t f o r comic
p u r p o s e s , j u s t a s he saw th e f a u l t s o f th e m i n s t r e l
b a l l a d rom ances and p a ro d ie d them f o r s i m i l a r e f f e c t .
( C haucer, p . 80)
T his i s an in g e n io u s a tte m p t to r e c o n c i l e th e parody
th e o r y w ith th e n o tio n t h a t Chaucer, a s a m e d ie v a l, p r o b
a b ly had a genu in e a d m ir a tio n f o r th e t a l e . Chaucer saw
i t as s e r i o u s and comic a t th e same tim e . As Baum p u t s i t ,
13
" I f S i r Thopas and th e M elib eu s had no s e r i o u s a p p e a l they
would m iss f i r e a s comedy. They had to be good i n one
j
se n se i n o r d e r to p ro d u ce t h e i r s p e c i a l k in d o f comic
: c a t h a r s i s " ( C h a u ce r, p . 8 l ) . T a t l o c k 's f i n a l p o s i t i o n i s
s i m i l a r . W hile s t i l l h o ld in g to th e e s s e n t i a l s e r i o u s n e s s
and m ed iev a l n a t u r e o f th e M e lib e e , he adds t h a t " in th e
i n s e r t i o n o f i t t h e r e was no do ubt some i r o n y and amused
se n se o f c o n t r a s t w ith th e fo rm er a tte m p t ( S i r T hopas) ;
Chaucer i n h i s own t a l e s d e l i b e r a t e l y goes to th e two e x
trem es" (Developm ent and C h ro nology , p . 190). And Howard
P a tc h sa y s much th e same:
I f th e p l a c i n g o f th e T ale o f M elibee a f t e r th e b u r le s q u e
mood o f th e T ale o f S i r T hopas, and th e r e f e r e n c e to i t
a s t h i s ' l i t t l e t r e a t i s e , ' do n o t s u g g e s t t h a t i t be
ta k e n w ith a g r a i n o f s a l t , a t l e a s t t h e r e i s som ething
o f th e a i r o f a p in c h o f s n u f f a b o u t i t . l 6
U n f o r t u n a t e ly , none o f th e s e c r i t i c s h a s t r e a t e d t h i s
p o s s i b i l i t y i n any d e t a i l , a lth o u g h Baum i s aware o f th e
main o b j e c t i o n . The T a le o f S i r Thopas i s a p a ro d y p r o p e r ;
i t h a s no s i n g l e s o u r c e , b u t i s r a t h e r a c o l l e c t i o n o f th e
w o rs t t r a i t s o f s e v e r a l s o u r c e s . The T ale o f M e lib e e , on
th e o t h e r hand, i s a c lo s e t r a n s l a t i o n o f a s i n g l e s o u r c e .
: I f th e t a l e s a r e b o th p a r o d i e s , th e y a r e a lm o st t o t a l l y
; d i f f e r e n t i n k in d . In o r d e r to a c c e p t K e r 's s u g g e s tio n ,
we m ust assume t h a t th e t a l e i s f u l l o f b a th o s , t h a t i t s
i
On R e re a d in g C haucer (C am bridge, M ass., 1939)* P.
; 2 4 2 .
14
| m o r a liz in g i s e x c e s s iv e and f a u l t y ; and so f a r no d e t a i l e d
i
! e v id e n c e f o r t h i s h a s e v e r been ad vanced .
I n th e whole h i s t o r y o f M elibee c r i t i c i s m o n ly one
; c r i t i c h a s p r e s e n t e d h i s view s a t l e n g t h and i n d e t a i l .
; F or t h i s r e a s o n a l o n e * R. M. Lumiansky d e s e rv e s a s p e c i a l
p l a c e i n t h i s summary. A ccording to Lumiansky* S i r Thopas
and M elibee
a r e s e t i n a c a r e f u l l y d e v e lo p e d d ra m a tic fram ework p r o
v id e d by t h r e e exchanges betw een t h e N a r r a t o r and th e
H o st. These exchang es a r e s t r a t e g i c a l l y p l a c e d b e f o r e
' S i r T h o p a s j' betw een ' S i r T hopas' and 'M e lib e u s * ' and
a f t e r 'M e lib e u s * ' and a r e c l o s e l y meshed w ith b o th th e
manner and th e c o n te n t o f th e two t a l e s . To r e a d th e s e
t a l e s w ith o u t c a r e f u l r e g a r d f o r t h e i r d ra m a tic fram e
work would be a lm o st c e r t a i n l y to n e g l e c t C h a u c e r 's i n
t e n t i o n s . As we s h a l l see* t h i s whole p e rfo rm an c e by
th e P i l g r i m C haucer i s aim ed a t e x p o sin g H a rry B a i l l y
to g e n i a l r i d i c u l e .
The key te rm h e re i s " d ra m a tic * " b e c a u se i t i n d i c a t e s
a w id e n in g o f th e c r i t i c ' s p e r s p e c t i v e to i n c l u d e n o t o n ly
S i r Thopas, and th e M e lib e e , b u t th e " l i n k s " betw een them
a s w e l l . F or Lumiansky* th e t a l e s have l i t t l e meaning
s e p a r a t e from t h e i r " d ra m a tic fram ew ork." They a r e to be
c o n s id e r e d p a r t o f a "p erform ance*" so to s p e a k - - t h e " P i l
g rim Chaucer . . . e x p o sin g H arry B a i l l y to g e n i a l r i d i -
; c u l e " —and a s such th e y a re r e f l e c t i o n s o f c h a r a c t e r as
j w e l l as t a l e s . We m ig h t sa y t h a t L u m ian sk y 's view i s a
; s o p h i s t i c a t e d developm ent o f th e "vengeance th e o ry * " b u t
! w ith no c o n fu s io n a s to who i s C haucer th e p o e t and who i s
17
' Of Sondry F o lk i The D ram atic P r i n c i p l e i n th e Can
t e r b u r y T a le s (A ustin* i955T7~p7~"B3l
C haucer t h e p i l g r i m . The T a le o f M e lib e e i s p a r t o f an
I
| e l a b o r a t e jo k e on H a rry B a i l l y . And t h i s i s how i t i s
done:
The c o r e o f t h e jo k e i s to be t h a t th e N a r r a t o r * th e
l i t e r a r y s o p h i s t i c a t e * w i l l i n h i s p e rfo r m a n c e f i r s t make
p l e n t i f u l l y an d e n t e r t a i n i n g l y e v i d e n t t h e f a c t t h a t
H a rry B a i l l y l a c k s any r e a l l i t e r a r y c r i t i c a l a b i l i t y *
d e s p i t e t h e r a p i d i t y an d c e r t a i n t y w ith w h ich he c r i t i
c i z e s t h e v a r i o u s t a l e s ; and second* he w i l l jo c k e y th e
Host* a h e n p e c k e d husband* i n t o a p p ro v in g a t a l e i n w hich
a h u sb a n d p r o f i t s by a c c e p t i n g h i s w i f e ' s a d v i c e . ( Of
S o ndry F o l k * p . 8 5 )
M e lib e e c r i t i c i s m h a s r e a c h e d i t s f u l l e s t d e v e lo p m e n t
i n L u m ia n sk y rs p a g e s . The t a l e i s se en a s a f u l l - f l e d g e d
w o rk in g member o f th e C a n te r b u r y T a l e s ; t h e p l o t o f t h e
M e lib e e ( i t d o e s have o n e ) i s r e l a t e d to t h e p e r s o n a l i t i e s
o f two o f th e p i l g r i m s * w hich a ssu m e s t h a t C h au cer v e r y
c o n s c i o u s l y c h o se and p l a c e d th e t a l e i n t h e w ork. T h is
does n o t mean t h a t L um iansky i s c o r r e c t * b u t o n ly t h a t
p r e s e n t and f u t u r e c r i t i c s w i l l h a v e to go o v e r th e same
g ro u n d u s i n g many o f t h e same t e c h n i q u e s .
C r i t i c a l a p p r a i s a l s o f th e t a l e have o c c a s i o n a l l y
b ra n c h e d o u t i n t o a c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f i t s p o s s i b l e r e l a t i o n
s h i p s w i t h C a n te r b u r y t a l e s and l i n k s o t h e r th a n th o s e
i n v o l v i n g C h a u ce r th e P i l g r i m and H a rry B a i l l y * b u t n e v e r
w ith L u m ia n s k y 1s th o r o u g h n e s s . F o r example* e a r l y i n t h i s
c e n t u r y T a t l o c k showed i n d e t a i l how th e M e lib e e h a d " a f
f e c t e d th e p l o t an d c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n o f t h e M e r c h a n t' s
T a l e * " b u t he a p p l i e d h i s f i n d i n g s o n ly to t h e p ro b le m o f
t h e c h ro n o lo g y o f C h a u c e r 's w orks (D evelopm ent and C h ro -
- ' ’ ’ 16
j no lo g y , p . 2 1 5 ). W. W. Lawrence., w r i t i n g i n 1950— f i v e
!
| y e a r s b e f o r e Of Sondry F o lk —was th e f i r s t c r i t i c to su g -
i g e s t t h a t th e T ale o f M elibee had f a r - r e a c h i n g i n f l u e n c e
| among th e C a n te rb u ry T a le s a s a w hole, Most o f L a w re n c e 's
a t t e n t i o n was fo c u s e d on a r e l a t i o n s h i p he saw betw een th e
M elibee and t h a t group o f t a l e s now commonly known a s th e
"M arriag e D i s c u s s i o n , " a d e s i g n a t i o n ta k e n from th e u n i
v e r s a l l y known s tu d y o f K i t t r e d g e —which r e f e r s to th e
t a l e s o f th e Wife o f B a th , C le rk , M erchant, and F r a n k l i n .
Lawrence s e r i o u s l y p ro p o se d t h a t we add th e T ale o f M elibee
to t h i s g r o u p i n g - - i n f a c t , he o f f e r e d i t a s th e b e g in n in g
p o i n t o f th e d i s c u s s i o n a s a w hole:
A ltho ugh alm o st sm o thered by lo ng sp e e c h e s and le a r n e d
c i t a t i o n s , th e M elib eus t e l l s a s t o r y , w hich i s im p o r
t a n t , f o r from i t i s d e r iv e d th e theme o f th e M arriag e
D i s c u s s io n , and from i t stem s th e D ebate which f o llo w s .
What i s im p o r ta n t to n o te h e re i s th e w id e -ra n g in g
c r i t i c a l p e r s p e c t i v e , a s compared to e a r l i e r view s o f i t
a s a t y p i c a l m ed iev a l t r a c t , a jo h n n y - c o m e - la te ly member
; o f th e T a l e s . As a m a t t e r o f f a c t , th e scope o f M elibee
c r i t i c i s m h a s expanded to such an e x t e n t t h a t B e rn a rd
Huppe h a s r e c e n t l y d e c l a r e d t h a t " th e s e n te n c e [m eaning]
o f th e T ale o f M elibeus i s th e s e n te n c e o f th e C a n te rb u ry
l 8
C haucer and th e C a n te rb u ry T a le s (New Y ork, 195° ) j
] p . 133- See G. L. K i t t r e d g e , ''C h a u c e r's D is c u s s io n o f
M a r r ia g e ," MP, XI (1 9 1 1 -1 9 1 2 ), 4 3 5 -4 6 7 j John S. Kenyon,
; " F u r th e r N o tes on th e M a rria g e G roup," JEGP, XV (1 9 1 6 ),
I 282-288. ‘
17
T a l e s . 1 1 T h is s u g g e s t i o n o f p e r f e c t harm ony o f a t a l e an d
; i t s c o n t e x t i s a b o u t a s f a r a s M e lib e e c r i t i c i s m h a s g o n e .
I n g o in g so fa r* how ev er, i t can be o b j e c t e d t h a t
I c r i t i c s o f t h e T a le o f M e lib e e h av e o f t e n moved to o f a s t .
I f a n y t h i n g , o u r s u r v e y h e r e s h o u ld g i v e t h e i m p r e s s io n o f
i v a r i e t y - - b u t t h i s v a r i e t y i s p a r t l y t h e r e s u l t o f u n t e s t e d
a s s u m p t io n s , o f f - h a n d r e m a r k s , and a b y - th e - w a y a p p ro a c h
t o t h e t a l e . As a r e s u l t many q u e s t i o n s s t i l l re m a in ,
: l a r g e l y b e c a u s e no one h a s r e c e n t l y g iv e n t h e g ro u n d a
f i r m g o in g o v e r . T h is n e e d f o r a t e s t i n g and a c o n s o l i d a
t i o n o f th e u n d o u b te d g a i n s i n M e lib e e c r i t i c i s m o v e r th e
l a s t s i x t y y e a r s p r o v i d e s t h e b a s i c j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r th e
c h a p t e r s t h a t f o l l o w .
S u r p r i s i n g l y , am id a l l t h e com m entary t h e r e h a s been
a lm o s t no a t t e n t i o n p a i d to t h e m ost fu n d a m e n ta l q u e s t i o n
o f a l l : t h a t i s , w hat k in d o f a l i t e r a r y s t r u c t u r e does
th e T a le o f M e lib e e h a v e ? What k in d o f a t h i n g i s i t ?
A lm ost e v e ry o n e h a s assum ed t h a t i t i s an " a l l e g o r y , " b u t
we know how i m p r e c i s e t h i s te rm can b e . A b e t t e r q u e s t i o n
; to a s k w ould b e , w hat k in d o f a l l e g o r y i s i t ? We n e e d to
■ know more a b o u t t h e g e n r e and t r a d i t i o n of ;he t a l e .
Once t h i s f o u n d a t i o n i s e s t a b l i s h e d , .e w i l l be r e a d y
: t o d e a l w i t h t h e u n r e s o l v e d d is a g r e e m e n t o v e r t h e m eaning
; o f th e t a l e . We have m e n tio n e d t h o s e c r i t i c s who f e e l t h a t
^ A R e ad in g o f t h e C a n te r b u r y T a le s (A lb a n y , 1 9 6 4 ),
i t i s an o rth o d o x p i e c e o f m ed iev al m o ralizin g ., and th o se
! who f e e l t h a t i t s message i s unsound. More re c e n tly .,
; a n o th e r d isa g re e m e n t has a r i s e n o v e r th e t a l e ’ s c o n ce p t o f
I m arriage., w ith Lumiansky and Lawrence b o th a rg u in g t h a t th e
| M elibee te a c h e s t h a t a w ife sh o u ld have m a s te ry o v e r h e r
husband i n m a rria g e , and B e rn a rd Hupp6 c la im in g t h a t th e
; t a l e " s u g g e s ts how a w ife may i n f l u e n c e h e r husband w ith
o u t o v e r tu r n in g th e o r d e r o f m a rria g e " (A R eading, p . 2 3 3).
P erh ap s a more com plete view o f th e t a l e ’ s t r a d i t i o n , and
some background i n th e c o n cep t o f m a rria g e i n th e Middle
Ages w i l l h e lp i n r e s o l v i n g t h i s fundam ental d i v i s i o n among
th e c r i t i c s .
In d e a lin g w ith th e M elibee i n th e c o n te x t o f th e
T a le s , o u r p ro c e d u re w i l l be to work from th e i n s i d e o u t
w ard— t h a t i s , b e g in n in g w ith a c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f th e S i r
T hopas-M elibee g ro u p in g and th e exchanges betw een Chaucer
th e P ilg r im and H arry B a i l l y , and th en w orking outw ard to
a c o n s i d e r a ti o n o f th e way th e M elibee f u n c t i o n s in F ra g -
■ ment V II a s a w hole.
Our b a s i c q u e s tio n h e re h a s been asked b e f o r e : what
: i s th e T ale o f M elibee doing i n th e C a n te rb u ry T a l e s ?
■ Lumiansky, Lawrence, and Huppe have p ro p o se d answ ers which
: have n e v e r been t e s t e d i n a s y s te m a tic way. These and
; o t h e r c r i t i c s l i k e T a tlo c k have d is c o v e r e d p o s s i b l e r e l a -
I t i o n s h i p s betw een th e M elibee and th e H ost, o r th e M elibee
| and th e m a rria g e t a l e s ; b u t th e y have l e f t a lm o st u n -
| tou ch ed th o se t a l e s In th e more im m ediate c o n te x t o f F ra g -
!
jm ent V I I — th o s e o f th e Shipman, P r i o r e s s , Monk, and N un's
; P r i e s t . I t i s tim e to drop th e p e b b le i n th e p o o l a g a in ,
; and c a r e f u l l y w atch th e r i n g s .
!
CHAPTER I I
^ TALE OF MELIBEE AND ITS TRADITION
The u l t i m a t e s o u r c e o f C h a u c e r 's T a le o f M e l i b e e , th e
L ib e r C o n s o l a t i o n i s e t C o n s i l i i (Book o f C o n s o l a t i o n and
C o u n s e l) by A l b e r t a n o o f B re s c ia ., was e d i t e d f o r t h e
C h au cer S o c i e t y i n 1873 by T hor S un dby ; 1 an d C h a u c e r 's
d i r e c t s o u r c e , t h e L iv r e de M e lib e e e t P r u d e n c e , an a d a p
t a t i o n o f A l b e r t a n o by Renaud de L ou en s, h a s b een e d i t e d
2
by J . B u rk e S e v e r s i n S o u rc e s and A n a lo g u e s . A c c o rd in g
to Sundby, A lb e r ta n o was b o rn i n t h e l a s t d e c a d e o f th e
t w e l f t h c e n t u r y , s e r v e d a s a ju d g e a t B r e s c i a , and was
; a c t i v e i n th e le a g u e o f Lombard c i t i e s a g a i n s t F r e d e r i c k
; I I d u r in g th e f i r s t h a l f o f t h e t h i r t e e n t h c e n t u r y . He
seems t o have b e en h i g h l y r e g a r d e d a s a w r i t e r , and h i s
: w o r k s - - a l l i n L a t i n - - ”e x i s t i n a g r e a t num ber o f manu-
s c r i p t s ” (Sundby, p p . v - x i ) . A l b e r t a n o , S e v e r s t e l l s u s ,
; ”had t h e p l e a s a n t c u sto m o f I n d i t i n g a L a t i n t r a c t a t e and
^L i b e r C o n s o l a t i o n i s e t C o n s i l i i , e d . T hor Sundby, 8
' (London^ 1873)•
j o
"The T a le o f M e l i b e u s ; I n t r o d u c t i o n , ” i n W. F. B ryan
j and G erm aine D e m p ster, e d s . , S o u rc e s and A n a lo g u e s o f
| C h a u c e r 's C a n te r b u r y T a l e s (C h ic a g o , 1941’ ) ppT 5 & 0 ff.
20
21
p r e s e n t i n g i t to each o f h i s so n s as each came o f age and
e n t e r e d upon a c a r e e r " (p . 5 ^ 0 ) . The L ib e r C o n s o l a ti o n i s
i s th e th ird ., and la s t., o f t h e s e t r e a t i s e s . , w r i t t e n i n |
1246 and d e d ic a t e d to h i s son G iovanni (Sundby, p . x i ) .
C haucer, how ever, does n o t a p p e a r to have made th e
J
s l i g h t e s t u s e o f A l b e r t a n o 's o r i g i n a l L a tin i n th e T ale o f
M e lib e e . As S e v e rs p u t s i t ,
I The e v id e n c e p o i n t s to C h a u c e r 's s o l e r e l i a n c e upon th e
! F re n c h . , . . S en ten c e f o r s e n te n c e , p h r a s e f o r p h r a s e ,
| even word f o r word, f o r th e m ost p a r t th e T ale o f M e li-
beus i s a c lo s e t r a n s l a t i o n o f R e n a u d 's L iv re de M elibee
I e t P ru d e n c e . (pp. 563~564)
i
| Renaud de Louens, a Dominican f r i a r o f th e c o n v en t a t
i -
| P o lig n y i n th e J u r a , w ro te h i s v e r s i o n sometime a f t e r 1 3 3 °.:
! "Of a l l th e F re n ch r e d a c t i o n s , R e n a u d 's was by f a r th e m o s t:
I
I
| p o p u l a r " — and by c lo s e and c o n v in c in g com parison o r p a r a l - ;
I ;
l e i t e x t s S e v e rs d e m o n s tr a te s C h a u c e r 's " r e lia n c e " , beyond |
r e a s o n a b l e doubt (p . 5 6 1 ) . One re a s o n f o r th e p o p u l a r i t y |
o f R e n a u d 's v e r s i o n , and p e r h a p s f o r C h a u c e r 's d e c i s i o n to
u s e i t , l i e s i n th e f a c t t h a t i t i s much more o f an "ad a p - |
t a t i o n " th a n a t r a n s l a t i o n . S e v e rs w r i t e s : ;
Renaud h a n d le s h i s L a tin s o u rc e b o l d l y and f r e e l y , c u t t i n g
i t s tw e n ty th o u sa n d words to f o u r t e e n th o u sa n d , to p r o - ;
duce a v e r s i o n a b o u t two t h i r d s th e le n g t h o f th e o r i g - i
i n a l . I n o r d e r to a c h ie v e t h i s a b rid g e m e n t, he c o m p lete -;
l y d i s c a r d e d s i x o f A l b e r t a n o 's f i f t y - o n e c h a p t e r s ,
o m itte d a lm o s t th e whole o f e i g h t o t h e r s , and r e j e c t e d
more th a n f i f t y p e r c e n t o f th e m a t e r i a l i n a b o u t h a l f j
th e re m a in in g c h a p t e r s . A l b e r t a n o 's method o f com posi
t i o n a llo w e d Renaud e a s i l y to e f f e c t l a r g e and d r a s t i c ‘
e x c i s i o n s w ith o u t s e r i o u s l y i m p a i r i n g th e main d e v e lo p - j
ment o f th o u g h t. F o r t r s u a ll y A lb e rta n o s t a t e s an i d e a j
s u c c i n c t l y , th e n p i l e s up r e p e t i t i o u s s u p p o r tin g q u o ta - j
t i o n s from v a r i o u s a u t h o r i t i e s , m e d ie v a l and c l a s s i c .
22 !
Renaud^ coming a f t e r him, s e i z e d upon th e c h i e f i d e a s ,
th e n s e l e c t e d a t w i l l among th e abundance o f q u o t a t i o n s .
. . . The r e s u l t was a b r i e f e r , more c l o s e l y k n i t , l e s s
sc h e m a tic t r e a t i s e , (p. 5 6 1)
These o b s e r v a t i o n s , w h ile n o t i n th e main l i n e o f t h i s ;
s tu d y , c o n s t i t u t e a t e x t u a l backg ro und t h a t we w i l l need
to be aware o f a s we p ro c e e d . In e f f e c t , S e v e rs demon
s t r a t e s t h a t C h a u c e r 's T ale o f M e lib e e , almoBt p a r a d o x i c a l
l y , i s a c o n s i d e r a b ly a l t e r e d y e t e s s e n t i a l l y unchanged
v e r s i o n o f A l b e r t a n o ' s Book o f C o n s o la tio n and C o u n s e l.
[Renaud, a f t e r h i s c u t s , added many q u o t a t i o n s o f h i s own,
j b u t a lm o s t alw ays w i t h i n th e fram ework e s t a b l i s h e d by A l-
I
j b e r t a n o . C haucer added and s u b t r a c t e d a l i t t l e on h i s own;:
b u t a c c o rd in g to S e v e rs h i s " a d d i t i o n s a r e even l e s s im - :
p o r t a n t " th a n R e n a u d 's (p. 5^5)- C h a u c e r 's m ajo r e x c i s i o n ,
| a p a s s a g e on th e l a c k o f wisdom i n y o u t h f u l k in g s , shows ;
d e f e r e n c e to R ic h a rd I I and h e lp s to d a te th e t r a n s l a t i o n
a f t e r 1377j b u t i t h a s no s t r u c t u r a l s i g n i f i c a n c e . There j
i s no e v id e n c e t h a t e i t h e r Renaud o r C haucer made h i s
changes b e c a u se t h e y d i s a g r e e d w i t h any a s p e c t o f A lb e r
tan o f s th em e.
W ith t h i s much e s t a b l i s h e d , o u r c o n c e rn h e re w i l l be I
w ith C h a u c e r 's t r a n s l a t i o n a s i t now s t a n d s — i t s own s t r u c - ;
t u r e and i t s r e l a t i o n s h i p to th e r e s t o f th e C a n te rb u ry
T a l e s . I n t h i s c h a p t e r we s h a l l be i n t e r e s t e d p a r t i c u l a r l y !
i n th e s t r u c t u r e o f th e t a l e , and i t s m e d ie v a l and c l a s - j
s i c a l b a c k g ro u n d — a c o n s i d e r a t i o n s c a r c e l y to u ch ed on by
23;
any o f th e c r i t i c s o r t e x t u a l s c h o l a r s so f a r . In o r d e r j
to do t h i s , we w i l l f i r s t have to p l a c e th e t a l e b e f o r e u s
th ro u g h th e som etim es t e d i o u s d e v ic e o f p a r a p h r a s e .
We have a l r e a d y q u o te d th e openin g p a r a g r a p h s o f th e
t a l e , b u t to r e c a p i t u l a t e , "a yong man c a l l e d M e lib e u s,
myghty and r i c h e , " who h a s a w ife Prudence and a d a u g h te r
j S o p h ie , i s o u t i n th e f i e l d s " f o r h i s d e s p o r t " — "to
p le y e " --w h e n " t h r e o f h i s o ld e fo e s " b r e a k i n t o h i s h o u se ,
b e a t h i s w if e , and g iv e h i s d a u g h te r f i v e m o r ta l wounds,
!
| le a v in g h e r f o r dead. When M elibeus r e t u r n s and s e e s w hat
h a s happened he b e g in s to c r y and t e a r h i s c l o t h e s l i k e a
"mad m an." Prudence t r i e s to p e rs u a d e him to s to p h i s
w eeping, b u t he o n ly g r i e v e s th e m ore. Then:
T h is n o b le wyf Prudence remembred h i r e upon th e s e n -
! te n c e o f O vide, i n h i s book t h a t e le p e d i s th e Remedie
o f Love, w here a s he s e i t h / 'He i s a f o o l t h a t d e s t o u r -
b e th th e mooder to wepen i n th e d e e th o f h i r e c h i l d , t i l i
she have w ept h i r f i l l e a s f o r a c e r t e i n t y m e ; / and
th an n e s h a l man doon h i s d i l i g e n c e w ith am yable w ordes j
h i r e to r e c o n f o r t e , and p re y e n h i r e o f h i r wepyng f o r to I
s t y n t e . 1 ( V I I .976-978)
] i
T h is she d o e s: "And whan she saugh h i r ty m e," she a s k e d , i
i
" A l l a s , my l o r d , why make ye y o u r e s e l f f o r to be ly k a !
f o o l ? For s o th e i t a p e r t e n e t h n a t to a wys man to maken |
sw ich a sorew" (V II , 9 8 0- 9 8 1 ) -r-and i t i s w ith t h i s q u e s t io n !
t h a t th e d ia lo g u e betw een M elibeus and Pruden ce b e g in s .
O b v io u sly , we c an n o t a f f o r d to summarize e v e r y a s p e c t o f
t h i s long c o n v e r s a tio n s b u t to g e t th e work more f u l l y i n
r
l
mind i t w i l l be n e c e s s a r y to n o te th e i m p o r t a n t them es, j
24
d ram atics., and s t r u c t u r a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . S in c e th e work
i s b a s i c a l l y r e p e t i t i o u s , i t s h o u ld ad m it to a r a t h e r
s e v e r e c o n d e n s a tio n w ith o u t much l o s s —p e rh a p s even a
g a i n — i n o u r se n se o f i t s o v e r a l l shape.
The f i r s t s e c t i o n o f d ia lo g u e i s on th e im m ediate
s u b j e c t o f th e a c t i o n : g r i e f . Prudence a rg u e s t h a t " o u t
ra g e o u s wepyng" i s n o t r e a s o n a b l e . W ith G od's g r a c e , So
p h i e w i l l r e c o v e r . "W herfore u s o g h te , a s wel i n th e
d e e th o f o u re c h i l d r e n a s i n th e lo s o f o u re o t h e r e goodes
t e m p o r e ls , have p a c ie n c e " ( V I I . 9 9 8 ). Remember Jo b . M e li
b e u s a g r e e s , "b u t tr e w e ly myn h e r t e i s t r o u b l e d w ith t h i s
sorwe so g r e v o u s ly t h a t I n o o t w hat to doone" ( V I I .lO O l) .
P rudence a d v i s e s him to c a l l a c o u n c il o f "th y trew e
f r e e n d e s a l l e , and th y lyn ag e w hiche t h a t been w i s e ," and
a sk t h e i r a d v ic e . "Salomon s e i t h , 'Werk a l l e th y th y n g es
by c o n s e i l , and thou s h a l t n e v e r r e p e n t e '" ( V I I .1 0 0 2 -1 0 0 3 ).
The n e x t long s e c t i o n c o n c e rn s th e c a l l i n g and a c t i o n s
o f t h i s c o u n c i l . I t sh o u ld be n o te d f i r s t o f a l l t h a t
M e lib e u s, I n s t e a d o f f o llo w in g h i s w i f e ' s a d v ic e , c a l l s
"a g r e e t c o n g re g a c io n o f f o l k " : d o c t o r s , f l a t t e r e r s , law
y e r s , o l d enem ies now r e c o n c i l e d , n e ig h b o r s o f dub io u s
a l l e g i a n c e , young and o l d . M elibeus p r e s e n t s h i s "c a s"
to them , b u t he makes I t c l e a r by h i s manner t h a t " in
h e r t e he b a a r a c r u e e l i r e , r e d y to doon vengeaunce upon
h i s f o e s " ( V I I .1 0 0 9 ) . The v a r i o u s f a c t i o n s th e n p r e s e n t
t h e i r a d v ic e . The su rg e o n s s u g g e s t veng ean ce; a law yer
2 5 - ;
" t h a t was wys" a d v is e s d e l i b e r a t i o n ,, so t h a t vengeance j
m igh t a t l e a s t be deemed " r e s o n a b l e " ; b u t th e young f o l k |
want w ar, and th e y sh o u t down an "o ld e w ise " man who a r - ;
g ues f l a t l y a g a i n s t i t , M elibeus c o n s e n ts f u l l y to th is . |
a d v ic e i n f a v o r o f war; b u t P ru d e n ce , " in f u l humble w is e ,
whan she saugh h i r tyme" a rg u e s t h a t " in w ikked h a s t e i s
no p r o f i t " ( V I I . 1051, 1 0 5 ^ ).
M elib eu s f l a t l y r e f u s e s to ta k e h i s w i f e ’s a d v ic e ,
a lm o st p u r e l y on th e g ro u n d s t h a t she i s a woman. Solomon
n e v e r found a good ?/oman; women b l a b b e r im p o r ta n t s e c r e t s
and undo men th ro u g h bad c o u n s e l. M elib eu s d e c l a r e s t h a t |
" i f I g o v e rn e d me by th y c o n s e i l , i t s h o ld e seme t h a t I j
hadde yeve to th e e o v e r me th e m a i s t r i e ; and God fo rb e d e
t h a t i t so w e e re !" ( V I I . 10 5 8 ). B e s id e s , i t would go
a g a i n s t w hat th e m a j o r i t y have d e c id e d . P ru d en ce, i n a j
i
long r e p l y , r e f u t e s t h e s e f a m i l i a r m e d ie v a l argum ents |
a g a i n s t women. Solomon was sp e a k in g o n ly o f "so v e rey n
b o u n t e , " and no one h a s t h a t b u t God a lo n e . T here have
v j
been many good women, " f u l d i s c r e t and w is i n c o n s e i l l - j
j
y n g e "; f o r exam ple, R ebecca, J u d i t h , A b i g a i l , and H e s t e r . ]
!
I f women were n o t good, "oure Lord God o f hevene wolde
n e v e re han w ro ght hem, ne c a l l e d hem h e lp o f man, b u t
r a t h e r c o n fu s io n o f man" ( V I I .1 1 0 6 ) . Note h e r comment on
th e q u e s t i o n o f m a s te ry :
1
'Ye seyn t h a t i f ye g o v ern e yow by my c o n s e i l , i t sh o ld e
seme t h a t ye hadde yeve me th e m a i s t r i e and th e l o r d -
s h ip e o v e r y o u re p e r s o n e . / S i r e , save y o u re g r a c e , i t
' ~ r 26
i s n a t so . For i f i t so were t h a t no man sh o ld e be con-
s e i l l e d b u t o o n ly o f hem t h a t hadden l o r d s h i p e and m a is
t r i e o f h i s p e r s o n e , men w olden n a t be o o n s e i l l e d so.
o f t e . / F or s o o t h l y t h i l k e man t h a t a s k e t h c o n s e i l o f a
p u rp o s , y e t h a th he f r e e choys w h e ith e r he wole werke by
t h a t c o n s e i l o r n o o n .' ( V I I . IO8O-IO 8 3 )
In o t h e r w o rd s, i f MelibeuB to o k h e r a d v ic e i t would n o t
be b e c a u se she had power o v e r him , b u t b e c a u se o f h i s f r e e
c h o ic e , however i t m ight seem to o t h e r s . I t i s no f o l l y
to change c o u n s e l when i t t u r n s o u t to be wrong; and as
|
| f a r as t h i s p a r t i c u l a r c o u n c i l i s c o n c e rn e d , t h e r e i s more
! p r o f i t " in fewe f o l k t h a t been w ise and f u l o f r e s o u n , than
by a g r e e t m u lt i tu d e o f f o l k t h e r e v e ry man c r i e t h and
c l a t e r e t h w hat t h a t hym l i k e t h " (V II.IO 6 9 ).
( ! f
M elib eu s i s won o v e r: Wyf, by c a u se o f th y sw eete
w o rd es, and eek f o r I have a s s a y e d and p re v e d th y g r e t e
s a p ie n c e and th y g r e t e t r o u t h e , I wol governe me by th y
c o n s e i l i n a l l e th y n g " ( V I I .1 1 1 4 ) . C u r io u s ly enough,
how ever, Prudence do es n o t fo llo w up t h i s h y p e rb o le w ith
a d v ic e on th e p o i n t d i r e c t l y i n q u e s t io n : w h e t h e r .o r n o t
to d e c l a r e w ar on th e t h r e e ' o l d f o e s . I n s t e a d , she g iv e s
a long d i s c o u r s e on th e p r o p e r ch o o sin g o f c o u n s e l l o r s .
M elibeus s h o u ld f i r s t make God h i s c o u n s e l l o r , and d r i v e
from h i s " h e r t e t h r e th y n g es t h a t been c o n t r a r i o u s e to
good c o n s e i l ; t h a t i s to se y n , i r e , c o v e i t i s e , and h a s t i f -
n e s s e " ( V I I . 1122). He sh o u ld a ls o keep h i s p e r s o n a l o p in
io n s e c r e t , s in c e many a d v i s o r s w i l l sim p ly a g re e w ith
t h e i r l o r d , once t h e y see w hich way h i s w i l l i n c l i n e s .
The b e s t a d v i s o r s a r e " tre w e , w is e , and o f 0 0 Id e x p e r ie n c e "
27
( V I I . I I 6 9 ) . One sh o u ld a v o id th e c o u n s e l o f f o o l s , o ld
en em ies now r e c o n c i l e d , th e young, any one p e rs o n e x c l u
s i v e l y , and w icked f o l k . The w ise man w i l l a ls o c o n s i d e r
th e c au se and e f f e c t s o f h i s d e c i s i o n . I f th e r e s u l t i s
l i k e l y to be more th a n he can h a n d le , he sh o u ld change h i s
c o u n s e l — "For th e p ro v e rb s e i t h , 'He t h a t to much em-
b r a c e t h , d i s t r e y n e t h l i t e l ' " (V T I.1 2 1 5 ). E very c o u n s e l
I t h a t i s a f f ir m e d so s t r o n g l y t h a t i t c a n n o t be changed i s
i
| w ic k ed .
M elibeus th e n a sk s f o r a c r i t i q u e o f th e c o u n c i l a t
h a n d , and P ru d e n ce , hum bly, w ith a l l due r e s p e c t , and a l
m ost beggin g h i s p a rd o n , s t a t e s t h a t i t co u ld h a r d l y be
c a l l e d a " c o n s e i l l y n g , " b u t r a t h e r "a mocioun o r a moevyng
| o f f o l y e " ( V I I . 1 2 3 8) . He h a s v i o l a t e d a l l o f t h e above
I p r i n c i p l e s ; and as f o r th e d e c i s i o n o f th e c o u n c i l , she
s t a t e s f l a t l y , "0 vengeaunce i s n a t w a r is s h e d by a n o th e r
vengeaunce" ( V I I . 1 2 8 5) .
I t i s i n t h i s long c r i t i q u e o f th e c o u n c i l t h a t we
se e dame P rudence g r a d u a l l y ch an g in g from a humble w ife
i n t o a v ig o ro u s and p ro b in g a d v i s o r . One o f h e r t e c h
n i q u e s a t t h i s p o i n t i s to a sk M elib eu s a q u e s t i o n , to
w hich he u s u a l l y g iv e s an im p e r f e c t answ er, and th e n to
d e m o n s tr a te a t l e n g t h why h i s o p in io n i s f a u l t y . M e lib e u s,
a lm o s t from th e b e g in n in g , i s w i l l i n g to l i s t e n to h e r ,
even w i l l i n g to do what she s a y s ; b u t c l e a r l y t h i s i s n o t
enough, s in c e Pru dence does n o t ta k e a d v a n ta g e o f h i s
w i l l i n g n e s s . She does n o t t e r m in a t e th e d i a l o g u e . I t
would a p p e a r t h a t t h e r e i s more t h a t M elibeus m ust know
b e f o r e he can i n t e l l i g e n t l y c a r r y o u t h e r c o u n s e l; and a s
h i s a n sw ers r e v e a l an i n c r e a s i n g la c k o f co m p rehension ,
h e r r e s p o n s e s i n c r e a s e i n e m o tio n a l f o r c e . She becomes
n o t o n ly h i s wife., so to speak., b u t a l s o h i s t e a c h e r . For
exam ple, i n t h i s s e c t i o n , where th e p r o b in g r e a l l y b e g in s .
P rudence a sk s M elibeus f o r an o p in io n on th e a d v ic e g iv e n
by th e p h y s i c i a n s , w hich was t h a t "oon c o n t r a r i e i s
w a r is s h e d by a n o th e r c o n t r a r i e " ( V I I .1 2 7 7 ) . He r e p l i e s :
'C e r t e s , I u n d e rs to n d e i t i n t h i s w i s e : / t h a t r i g h t a s
j th e y han doon me a c o n t r a r i e , r i g h t so sh o ld e I doon hem
; a n o t h e r . / F or r i g h t as th e y han venged hem on me and
S doon me wrong, r i g h t so s h a l I venge me upon hem and doon
hem w r o n g : / and th an n e have I c u re d oon c o n t r a r i e by
a n o t h e r . 1 ( V I I .1278-1281)
| To w hich P rudence r e p l i e s :
|
| ' Lo, l o , how l i g h t l y i s e v e r y man e n c l i n e d to h i s owene
j d e s i r and to h i s owene p l e s a u n c e j / C e r t e s , th e w ordes
j o f th e p h i s i e i e n s ne sh o ld e n a t han been u n d e rs to n d e n i n
| th y s w i s e . / For c e r t e s , w ik k e d n esse i s n a t c o n t r a r i e to
w ik k e d n e sse , ne vengeance to v en geaun ce, ne wrong to
wrong, b u t th e y been s e m b l a b l e . ' ( V I I .1282-1284)
T his I s a change from th e e x c e s s i v e l y humble to n e o f P r u
d e n c e 's e a r l i e r comments. I t v e rg e s on s c o r n . From t h i s
p o i n t on i t i s a d e b a te betw een e m o tio n a l e q u a l s , b u t w ith
Prudence c l e a r l y th e s u p e r i o r i n t e l l e c t ; she s u p p l i e s a l l
th e a n sw e rs.
At th e end o f t h i s s e c t i o n i s a d i g r e s s i o n i n t o th e
c ause o f M e lib e u s 1 p ro b lem , and P rudence s u p p l i e s an Im
p o r t a n t g l o s s :
2 9 :
"Thy name i s M e lib e e * t h i s i s to se y n , "a man t h a t
d ry n k e th h o n y , " / Thou h a s t ydronke so m uchel hony o f
sw eete te m p o re e l r i c h e s s e s , and d e l i c e s and h o n o u rs o f
t h i s w o r l d , / t h a t thou a r t dro n k en , and h a s t f o r g e t e n
Jh e su C r i s t th y e r e a t o u r . / . . . Thou h a s t doon synne i
agayn o u re Lord C r i s t ; / f o r c e r t e s , th e t h r e e enemys o f ^
mankynde, t h a t i s to sey n , th e f l e s s h , th e fe e n d , and
th e w o r l d , / thou h a s t s u f f r e d hem e n t r e i n thyn h e r t e
w i l f u l l y by th e wyndowes o f th y b o d y , / and h a s t n a t d e
fe n d e d t h y s e l f s u f f i s a n t l y agayns h i r e a s s a u t e s and h i r e :
te m p ta c io u n s , so t h a t th e y han wounded th y s o u le i n fyve I
p l a c e s ; / t h i s i s to sey n , th e d e e d ly synn es t h a t been
e n t r e d i n t o thyn h e r t e by th y fy v e w i t t e s . ' ( V I I . l 4 0 9 “
I 4 l l , l 4 l 9 - l 4 2 3 )
Me w i l l w ant to sa y more a b o u t t h i s p a s s a g e when we come
to c o n s i d e r th e T ale o f M elibee a s an a l l e g o r y ; b u t we
i
s h o u ld a t l e a s t n o te h e r e t h a t th e p a s s a g e i s a sy m b o lic ,
p s y c h o l o g i c a l , and C h r i s t i a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f th e f i r s t
few p a r a g r a p h s o f th e t a l e . I t s u g g e s ts t h a t th e t a l e
i n v o l v e s more th a n a d i s c u s s i o n o f th e e v i l s o f h a s t y
v en g ea n ce , and th e n e c e s s i t y o f good c o u n s e l. M e lib e u s,
how ever, i g n o r e s i t c o m p le te ly , and r e s o l v e s to go r i g h t j
ah ead w ith h i s v e n g e a n c e - ta k in g and t r u s t to F o rtu n e f o r
a good outcom e. P e rh ap s Prudence h a s waxed too deep too
soon. !
The n e x t s e c t i o n i s a p o t p o u r r i o f them es: th e b r i t - :
t l e n e s s o f F o rtu n e ; th e n eed f o r law r a t h e r th a n vengeance j
i n r e s o l v i n g q u a r r e l s ; and th e g r e a t v i r t u e o f p a t i e n c e , j
i n view o f th e f a c t t h a t l i f e i s s h o r t and f u l l o f t r o u b l e . |
M elibeus f r e t s a t a l l o f th e s e c o u n s e l s , a rg u in g t h a t too
i
much s u f f r a n c e w i l l o n ly b r i n g on more a t t a c k s . He f e e l s j
|
t h a t he h a s enough r i c h e s to s u c c e s s f u l l y wage war on h i s |
e n em ie s. B ut Prudence d i s a g r e e s : "H ire c o n d ic io n i s I
b e t t r e th a n y o u re s " ( V I I .1 4 7 9 ); and she th e n d i g r e s s e s
f u r t h e r i n t o a long d i s c u s s i o n o f th e r i g h t u se o f r i c h e s
and t h e h o r r o r s o f p o v e r t y . F i n a l l y , t h i s i s t i e d t o - j
g e t h e r w ith th e c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h a t v i c t o r y i n war depends
n o t on r i c h e s , h u t on th e w i l l o f God. "Bigynne no w erre |
i n t r u s t o f y o u re r i c h e s s e s " ( V I I . 1 6 5 0) . Vengeance b e lo n g s!
to God a lo n e ,
We now come to th e c lim a x , th e t u r n i n g p o i n t , o f t h i s ;
s u s p e n s e f u l s t o r y . ( i f you a r e b o re d to d e a th by now, J u s t;
im agine how th e C a n te rb u ry p i l g r i m s m ust have f e l t . ) M eli-;
b e u s a g a in d e c l a r e s t h a t he i s re a d y to fo llo w h i s w i f e ' s
c o u n s e l, and t h e r e i s even a to u c h o f humor— from th e
r e a d e r ' s s t a n d p o i n t a t l e a s t — i n h i s c o m p la in t t h a t "I
have- n a t y e t h e r d y o u re c o n s e i l , how I s h a l do i n t h i s j
nede" ( V I I , 167 4). A c t u a l ly , he h a s , b u t we m ust sym pathize!
I
w ith h i s i n a b i l i t y to p e r c e i v e i t i n th e l a b y r i n t h o f h e r :
r h e t o r i c . To t h i s p l e a , P rudence sim p ly r e p l i e s , "I con- j
s e i l l e yow t h a t ye a c c o rd e w ith y o u re a d v e r s a r i e s and t h a t |
ye have p e e s w ith hem" (V II.1 6 7 5 )* B ut a l a s , M elib eus h a s !
a g a in e x p re s s e d h i s w i l l i n g n e s s to do w hat she s a y s , o n ly
to f i n d t h a t he i s n o t m o r a lly re a d y to p e rfo rm i t . He j
f i n d s t h i s s t a r k a d v ic e i n t o l e r a b l e , |
1
I t i s a t t h i s p o i n t t h a t Prud ence r i s e s to h e r f u l l e s t !
s t a t u r e a s w ife and t e a c h e r . She makes a "se m b la n t o f |
w r a tt h e " and s t a t e s , " I knowe w el t h a t ye been so h a r d -
h e r t e d t h a t ye wol do no thyng f o r me" ( V I I . 1 6 9 5) — a n a re
3i;
i
t
i
and welcome touch o f p s y c h o l o g ic a l c o l o r i n t h i s o f t e n j
t e d i o u s t r a c t , M elib eus q u i c k l y b a c k s down: "Dame, I p r e y |
i
yow t h a t ye be n a t d i s p l e s e d o f th y n g es t h a t I se y e . j
S ey eth s h o r t l y y o u re wyl and y o ure c o n s e i l , and I am re d y ;
to f u l f i l l e and p a r f o u r n e i t " (V I I . 1 6 7 8,1 7 1 2 ) . Prudence !
r e p l i e s :
' I c o n s e i l l e yow, aboven a l l e th y n g e s , t h a t ye make p e e s |
b itw en e God and y o w ; / and b e th r e c o n s i l e d u n to hym and j
to h i s g r a c e . / F o r, a s I have sey d yow h e e r b i f o r n , God j
h a t h s u f f r e d yow to have t h i s t r i b u l a c i o u n and d i s e s e 1
f o r y o u re s y n n e s . / And i f ye do a s I sey yow, God wol
sende y o u re a d v e r s a r i e s u n to y o w ,/ and maken hem f a l l e n
a t y o u re f e e t , r e d y to do y o u re wyl and y o u re comande-
m e n t z .' ( V I I .1714-1718)
M elibeus p u t s f o r t h h i s r e s o l v e a g a in : "Dooth y o ure w i l and;
y o u re l ik y n g e ; f o r I p u t t e me h o o l ly i n y o u re d i s p o s i c io u n ;
and o rd in a u n e e " (V II.1 7 2 5 )*
From t h i s p o i n t th e t a l e p lo d s q u i c k l y , so to sp eak ,
i
to i t s end. Prudence m eets w ith M e lib e u s 1 enem ies i n a I
"pryv ee p l a c e , " f i n d s them " f u l r e p e n t a n t , " and a r r a n g e s I
f o r a r e c o n c i l i a t i o n . M elib eu s a g r e e s to have "p ees" w ith |
them. Prudence c a l l s a s e l e c t c o u n c i l o f " h i r e kyn, and j
. . . h i r e o ld e f r e e n d e s w hich t h a t were trew e and wyse"
i
( V I I . 1784), and th e y a ls o a d v is e (peace. M essages a r e s e n t
to th e f o e s ; th e y come to c o u r t and acknow ledge t h e i r
c rim e s ; and M elibeus a s s i g n s them a c e r t a i n day to r e t u r n
and r e c e i v e t h e i r s e n t e n c e s . I n th e m eantim e, Prudence j
i s r e s p e c t f u l l y i n t e r e s t e d i n knowing what h e r h u s b a n d 's I
"vengeaunce" w i l l b e . "I thynke and p u rp o se me f u l l y , "
32
he d e c l a r e s f l a t l y , "to d e s h e r i t e hem o f a l t h a t e v e re th e y
i
h a n , and f o r t o p u t t e hem In e x l l f o r e v e re " ( V I I . I 8 3 5 ) . !
j
Prudence i s a g h a s t , M elibeu s a p p e a rs to have l e a r n e d j
n o th in g from t h e i r long d e b a te . !
' C e r t e s , 1 quod dame P ru d e n ce , ' t h i s were a c r u e e l s e n -
te n c e and m uchel agayn r e s o u n . / Por ye been r i c h e
ynough, and han no nede o f o o t h e r mennes g o o d ; / and ye
myghte l i g h t l y i n t h i s w ise g e t e yow a c o v e ito u s n a m e ,/
which i s a v i c i o u s thyng , . . and t h e r f o r e , i f ye wole
t h a t men do yow o b e is a n c e , ye m oste deemen moore c u r -
t e i s l y ; / t h i s i s to sey n, ye m oste yeven moore e sy s e n
t e n c e s and J u g g e m e n tz ./ . . . P or S e i n t Jame s e i t h i n
h i s E p i s t l e : Juggem ent w ith o u te n m ercy s h a l be doon to
hym t h a t h a t h no m ercy o f a n o th e r w i g h t . " ' ( V I I . I 8 3 6 -
18 39,1 854 -1 855 ,1 868 )
At l a s t , M elib eus "gan e n c ly n e to th e w il o f h i s w yf,
c o n sid e ry n g e h i r trew e e n t e n t e , and conform ed hym anon,
and a s s e n te d f u l l y to werken a f t e r h i r c o n s e i l " (V I I . 1871- !
I 8 7 2 ) . At l a s t he i s won o v e r to f o r g i v e n e s s , and when
h i s enem ies r e t u r n f o r t h e i r s e n t e n c in g , he t e l l s them: j
!
' I rec ey v e yow to my g r a c e , / and fo ry e v e yow o u t r e l y |
a l l e th e o f f e n s e s , i n j u r i e s , and w ronges t h a t ye have
doon agayn me and m y n e ,/ to t h i s e f f e c t and t o t h i s ende
t h a t God o f h i s e n d e le e s mercy wole a t th e tyme o f o u re j
diynge f o ry e v e n us o u re g i l t e s t h a t we han t r e s p a s s e d to !
hym i n t h i s w recched w o r l d , / P or d o u t e l e e s , i f we be j
s o ry and r e p e n t a n t o f th e sy n n es and g i l t e s w hich we han
t r e s p a s s e d i n the s i g h t e o f o u re Lord G o d ,/ he i s so f r e e
and so m e r e ! a b le t h a t he wold fo ry e v e n u s o u re g i l t e s , /
and bryngen u s to th e b l i s s e t h a t n e v e r h a th ende. Amen.1
( V I I . 1881-1888)
"Heere i s end ed C haucers T ale o f M elibee and o f Dame P r u
d e n c e " —b u t c l e a r l y o u r s tu d y i s o n ly begun. H o p e fu lly ,
t h i s p a r a p h r a s e h as h e lp e d to p l a c e th e im p o r ta n t f e a t u r e s
o f th e t a l e more f i r m l y i n th e m ind, so t h a t we m ight be
i n a b e t t e r p o s i t i o n to c o n s i d e r th o s e c r i t i c a l and s t r u c -
33
i
t u r a l p ro b lem s a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e work. I t i s to th e s e ;
pro b lem s t h a t we m ust now d i r e c t o u r a t t e n t i o n .
Now t h a t we have th e t a l e b e f o r e us* i t would be w e ll
to ta k e up th e p ro b lem o f i t s form, s in c e th e c r i t i c s a l
m ost u n i v e r s a l l y a g re e t h a t i t i s b o th t y p i c a l l y m ed iev a l
and d u l l . A few c r i t i c s have made r a t h e r s p e c i f i c comments;
on i t s d e f i c i e n c i e s o f form , f o r exam ple, on th e s h o r t
comings o f th e T ale o f M elibee as an a l l e g o r y , a p ro blem
w hich we may as w e l l f a c e a t th e b e g in n in g . Raymond
P r e s to n h a s w r i t t e n : 'The " a l l e g o r y ” o f th e T ale o f M e li
b e u s does n o t d e s e rv e th e name. . . . The o pen ing o f th e
t a l e i s no more th a n ex cu se f o r th e d i s c u s s i o n o f v e n
g e an ce t h a t f o l lo w s ' ( C h a u c e r, p . 2 1 4 ). I n o r d e r to p u t
t h i s c h a rg e i n t o p e r s p e c t i v e i t w i l l be n e c e s s a r y to r e f e r
ba ck to o u r p a r a p h r a s e , and to th e t a l e i t s e l f . ;
As th e p a r a p h r a s e i n d i c a t e s , t h e r e a r e two main s e c -
j
t i o n s w hich would seem to i n v i t e an a l l e g o r i c a l i n t e r p r e
t a t i o n o f th e w hole: th e openin g p a r a g r a p h s (V I I . 9 6 7 -9 7 5 ) j i
and a p a s s a g e o f a b o u t e q u a l l e n g t h i n th e m id dle (V II. j
i
1 4 1 0 -1 4 2 6 ). The two p a s s a g e s a re d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d , th e
second b e in g sim p ly a g l o s s on th e o penin g e v e n ts o f th e
t a l e . In t h i s second p a s s a g e Prudence e x p l a i n s w hat " a c - j
t u a l l y " h appened to h e r h u sband . The t h r e e "o ld e f o e s " j
who b r e a k i n t o M e lib e u s ' h o u se , b e a t h i s w if e , and wound
h i s d a u g h te r a t th e b e g in n in g o f th e t a l e a r e g l o s s e d as
" th e t h r e enemys o f mankynde, t h a t i s to sey n , th e f l e s s h , j
th e fe e n d , and th e w o rld " ( V I I . l 4 2 l ) . The h ouse t u r n s o u t
i
to be a m etaph or f o r M elibeus h i m s e l f : "Thou h a s t s u f f r e d
i
hem e n t r e i n to th yn h e r t e w i l f u l l y by th e wyndowes o f th y j
body" ( V I I . l 4 2 2 ) . H is d a u g h te r Sophie., w ith th e f i v e |
c u r i o u s wounds " in h i r f e e t , in h i r e h a n d e s, i n h i r e r y s ,
i n h i r n o se , and i n h i r e mouth" ( V I I . 9 7 2 ), r e p r e s e n t s !
M e lib e u s ' s o u l , wounded i n f i v e p l a c e s by " th e d e e d ly
i
synnes t h a t been e n t r e d i n t o th y n h e r t e by th y fyve w i t t e s " '
( V I I . 14 2 4 ). We a r e t o l d , i n s h o r t , t h a t i t i s n o t h i s
a c t u a l d a u g h te r who h a s been wounded, b u t M elib eu s h i m s e l f .
M elib eus h a s s in n e d . M elib eu s r e p r e s e n t s " 'a man t h a t
d ry n k e th h o n y '" - - t h e m ed iev a l etym ology o f h i s name. As
Prudence p u t s i t :
"Thou h a s t ydronke so m uchel hony o f sw eete te m p o re e l
r i c h e s s e s , and d e l i c e s and h o n o u rs o f t h i s w o r l d , / t h a t
thou a r t d ro n k en , and h a s t f o r g e t e n Jh e su C r i s t th y |
c r e a t o u r . / Thou ne h a s t n a t doon to hym sw ich honour i
and r e v e r e n c e a s th e e o u g h t" ( V I I .1411-1413) j
— a p a s s a g e o b v io u s ly meant to e x p l a i n th e meaning o f j
i
M e lib e u s' " d e s p o r t" and p l a y i n g i n th e f i e l d s i n th e o p e n - I
In g l i n e s (V I I . 9 6 8 ) . I
i
i
In o t h e r w ords, we a r e t o l d t h a t th e o p en in g p a r a
g ra p h s do n o t mean what th e y a p p e a r , l i t e r a l l y , on th e
s u r f a c e to mean. In a s e n s e , no a c t u a l house h a s been
e n t e r e d , no w ife and d a u g h te r a c t u a l l y b e a t e n . What i s
r e a l l y b e in g d e s c r i b e d i s th e c au se and e f f e c t o f s i n , i n
C h r i s t i a n te rm s . The names o f th e c h a r a c t e r s a r e - - a s i f
we d i d n ' t s u s p e c t a l r e a d y — sy m b o lic ; i n th e case o f P ru -
35 i
I
i
i
dence and Sophie th e y a re w hat we u s u a l l y c a l l p e r s o n i f i c a - j
t i o n s — a b s t r a c t q u a l i t i e s r e p r e s e n t e d a s human bein g s* i n
j
t h i s case M e lib e u s 1 wisdom and h i s soul* r e s p e c t i v e l y . j
The openin g scene i s c l e a r l y th e embodiment o r d r a m a tiz a - j
i
t i o n o f a C h r i s t i a n commonplace* and th e g r e a t im p o rta n c e
i
and s e r i o u s n e s s a s c r i b e d to t h i s c o n c e p t by th e g l o s s -
p a s s a g e a l s o makes i t c l e a r t h a t t h i s embodiment* t h i s
s t o r y o f a house u n d e r a tta c k * i s o f se co n d a ry im p o rta n c e . !
What th e open ing scen e r e p r e s e n t s was so im p o r ta n t to A l-
b e r t a n o t h a t he to o k p a in s to e x p la in i t u n m is ta k a b ly in
th e m iddle o f h i s w ork. As a r e s u l t * th e opening o f the
T ale o f M elibee can be r e a s o n a b ly c l a s s i f i e d a s an a l l e
g o ry .
1
C. S. Lewis h a s d e f in e d a l l e g o r y a s a l i t e r a r y form j
o r method w hich b e g in s "w ith an im m a te r ia l fa c t* such as
I
th e p a s s i o n s * " and th e n i n v e n t s "v i s i b i l i a to e x p r e s s
th em ." He w r i t e s : " I f you a r e h e s i t a t i n g betw een an a n g ry I
i
r e t o r t and a s o f t answer* you can e x p r e s s your s t a t e o f j
mind by i n v e n t i n g a p e rs o n c a l l e d I r a w ith a t o r c h and
l e t t i n g h e r c o n ten d w ith a n o th e r i n v e n t e d p e rs o n c a l l e d
P a t i e n t i a . G r a h a m Hough s t a t e s t h a t
i f the c o n c e p t comes f i r s t and i s th e n t r a n s l a t e d i n t o a
v i s i b l e e q u iv a le n t* t h i s i s a l l e g o r y . . . . I t a b s t r a c t s
c e r t a i n q u a l i t i e s from e x p e rie n c e * and then lo o k s f o r
^A lle g o r y o f Love (New York* 1958)* pp . 4 4 -4 5 .
36
s e n s i b l e images* mere c o n v e n tio n s o f p r e s e n t a t i o n * to
b r i n g them v i v i d l y to th e mind o f th e r e a d e r . ^ -
I t i s e v id e n t* I th in k * t h a t b o th o f t h e s e d e f i n i t i o n s !
f i t th e op en in g o f th e T ale o f M elibee a s I have d e s c r i b e d i
]
i t ; e v e ry d e t a i l * name* and a c t i o n f i t s c o n s i s t e n t l y i n t o
th e t h e o l o g i c a l p a t t e r n d i c t a t e d by th e second p a s s a g e .
I t h a s th e p o i n t f o r p o i n t c o n s i s t e n c y t h a t we g e n e r a l l y j
r e c o g n iz e i n t r u e a lle g o r y * and a c o n sp ic u o u s la c k o f what
we now c a l l " r e a l i s m . 1 1
The s e t t i n g — th e i n v a s i o n o f a h o u s e — i s an a p t d e
s c r i p t i o n o f th e i d e a b e h in d i t * b u t i t i s c l e a r l y n o t th e |
o n ly s e t t i n g t h a t c o u ld have been d e v is e d to e x p re s s such
a c o n c e p t. A t r e e whose b ra n c h e s grew so w i l d l y t h a t I
t h e i r o v erabun dance o f f r u i t f e l l to t h e g ro und and was
e a te n by hogs would p r o b a b ly do a s w e l l f o r th e b a s i c
them e. The ro o t* l i k e Prudence* c o u ld l e c t u r e th e r e s t
o f th e t r e e on th e s i n o f d e l i g h t i n g too much i n w o r ld ly |
|
I
t h i n g s . The o p e n in g o f M elibee h a s t h i s same se n se o f !
a r b i t r a r i n e s s * o f c o n v e n tio n a b o u t i t . !
* i
j
Beyond t h is * however* t h e r e w ould seem to be l i t t l e
j u s t i f i c a t i o n i n g e t t i n g f u r t h e r in v o lv e d i n th e c o m p li
c a t e d p ro b lem o f d e f i n i n g and t r a c i n g a l l e g o r y . Lewis*
Hough* and many o t h e r s have a l r e a d y done much o f t h i s
work; and a s Lewis p u t s i t * u l t i m a t e l y * a l l e g o r y "b elo n g s
^A P r e f a c e to The F a e r i e Queene (New York* 1 9 6 3)^ PP.
102-103.
37 i
i
i
n o t to m e d ie v a l man b u t to man, op even to mind, In g e n - j
e r a l " (A lle g o r y o f Love, p . 44). B e s id e s , i t i s by no
means c e r t a i n t h a t th e whole o f th e T ale o f M elibee i s an I
a l l e g o r y ; t h e r e f o r e I have c o n fin e d th e d i s c u s s i o n so f a r j
to th e o p e n in g p a r a g r a p h s and th e g l o s s i n g p a s s a g e , w hich,
as I s a i d b e f o r e , i s n o t a l l e g o r i c a l a t a l l , b u t m ere ly
e x p l a n a t o r y . j
The p ro b lem o f th e e x t e n t to w hich M elibee i s an a l
le g o ry l i e s b e h in d Raymond P r e s t o n ’s ch arg e t h a t " th e >
' a l l e g o r y ’ o f th e T ale o f M elibeu s does n o t d e s e rv e th e
name" ( C h a u c e r, p . 2 1 4 ). I n o t h e r w ords, th e t a l e , con
s i d e r e d a s an a l l e g o r y , I s n o t c o n s i s t e n t . P r e s t o n 's |
|
r e a s o n s a r e w o rth q u o tin g a t le n g t h :
What I s t h i s p e a c e t h a t th e la d y h a s c o u n s e lle d ? I f th e !
o p p o n e n ts a r e th e W orld, th e F le s h and th e D e v il, I t
would seem a d v i s a b l e to s id e w ith th e Church M i l i t a n t .
I f we r e g a r d th e ' a l l e g o r y , ' th e q u e s t io n i s How f a r
w i l l p ru d e n c e ta k e a man I n r e s i s t i n g e v i l ? At one
p o i n t t h e answ er a p p e a rs to be t h a t Prudence would make
a com pact w ith S a ta n . B ut a l l i s r i g h t i n th e end.
Prud ence would make p e a c e w ith God, and th e n th e W orld,
th e F l e s h and th e D e v il w i l l su b m it. Now i f th e a lle g o r y !
i s a n y th in g more th a n an i l l - a d v i s e d d i g r e s s i o n , I t
b r i n g s o u t — a s i t th u s r a t t l e s o v e r th e p o i n t s and
l u r c h e s i n t o th e r i g h t t r a c k — th e a c u t e n e s s o f th e p r o b
lem: t h e d i s t i n c t i o n betw een mercy and l a x i t y : o r betw een
th e two s e n s e s o f th e ' t o l e r a t i o n 1 w ith w hich C haucer
h i m s e l f h as been am bigu ously c r e d i t e d . I b e l i e v e t h a t
when he r e a d Le L iv re de M elibee e t de Dame Prudence he
saw t h a t I t was an a r t i s t i c f a i l u r e too I n s t r u c t i v e to
m is s. U n s t e a d i l y b a la n c in g th e l i t e r a l and th e a l l e
g o r i c a l , I t t o t t e r e d b e n e a th th e w e ig h t o f a g e n u in e
m oral d i f f i c u l t y . M o d e ra tio n , u n d e r s ta n d in g and g o o d w ill
were u r g e n t l y needed I n p r a c t i c a l a f f a i r s , and h e r e was
a p a m p h let to a d v e r t i s e them . At th e same tim e , to th e
i n t e l l i g e n t man, I t r a i s e d th e q u e s t i o n o f p e r s o n s who
m ight s u f f e r th e d e f e c t o f th e s e q u a l i t i e s . (C h a u c e r,
P. 215)
3 8 1
P r e s to n a p p e a rs to have a p o i n t . I t i s r a t h e r h a rd !
to a c c e p t Prudence a s a l i a i s o n betw een M elib eus and th e
D e v il; i t i s h a rd to ta k e s e r i o u s l y th e e x te n s i o n o f o u t
r i g h t f o r g i v e n e s s to th e t h r e e " fo e s " a t th e end; and i t
I s p e rh a p s even h a r d e r to u n d e r s t a n d th e " g r e e t c o n tr i c i o u n j
and h u m y lite e " (V I I . 1737) th e y e x p r e s s to Prudence a t t h e i r |
[
s e c r e t m e e tin g . H u m ility i s n o t a v i r t u e t r a d i t i o n a l l y
a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e D e v il; and a s t r i c t a l l e g o r i c a l r e a d
in g o f th e t a l e w ould seem to c o n t r a d i c t some o f th e most
f a m i l i a r commonplaces o f t r a d i t i o n a l C h r i s t i a n t h e o l o g y - -
f o r exam plej S t . P a u l 's c o n c e p t o f th e c o n tin u o u s c o n f l i c t
1 betw een f l e s h and s p i r i t , h i s m etaphor o f th e "whole a r - j
i
mour o f God," and h i s e x h o r t a t i o n to " f i g h t th e good f i g h t
i
o f f a i t h , " to name b u t a few (s e e G a l.V ,17; E p h .V I.1 0 -1 7 ;
lT I m .V I .1 2 ). W. W, Lawrence a g r e e s :
The a l l e g o r y c re a k s a good d e a l a t th e end, when th e i
goodw ife se n d s f o r th e t h r e e enem ies and c o n v e r ts them ;
to such sw eet r e a s o n a b l e n e s s t h a t th e y a r e w i l l i n g to i
make humble amends, and sub m it th e m s e lv e s to M e lib e u s. j
T hat i s n o t th e way th e w o rld , th e f l e s h , and th e d e v i l
u s u a l l y t r e a t a s i n n e r , no m a t t e r how much p ru d en c e and
wisdom he may d i s p l a y . ("The T ale o f M e lib e u s ," p . 105) j
We w i l l ta k e up th e q u e s t io n o f w h e th e r t h i s c o n s t i t u t e s I
|
a " g r e a t m o ral d i f f i c u l t y " when we come to th e them es. !
i
j
The p o in t to n o tic e now i s th a t i f the Tale o f Melibee i s j
an a lle g o ry , I t must be a r a th e r poor one. I t does not j
scan, and lack s co n siste n c y . I t "c re a k s." j
However, c r i t i c s of Melibee as a c o n s is te n t a lle g o ry j
may be overem phasising something th a t j u s t I s n ' t th e re . ;
I t may be t h a t th e t a l e I s sim p ly n o t an a l l e g o r y a s a
whole* o r t h a t by th e end th e C h r i s t i a n sym bolism r e s t s
o n ly v e ry l i g h t l y upon th e a c t i o n . I t I s a b s u rd to i n s i s t
t h a t th e t h r e e o ld fo e s r e p r e s e n t th e World* th e Flesh*
and th e D e v il th ro u g h o u t and w i t h o u t e x c e p tio n when th e y
a c t u a l l y behave m e re ly a s t h r e e p o l i t i c a l enem ies o f a j
f e u d a l p r i n c e who c o n fe s s to a crim e and a r e c o m p le te ly
f o r g iv e n a t th e end, I t i s v e ry d o u b t f u l t h a t A lb e rta n o
e v e r i n te n d e d h i s work to be r e a d a s a c o n s i s t e n t a l l e g o r y . ;
E v ery r e a d e r o f P i e r s Plowman knows t h a t m e d ie v a l a l l e g o r i e s
I
have a te n d e n c y to s h i f t b ack and f o r t h from th e sym bolic
to th e l i t e r a l l e v e l . M edieval re a d e rs * th e sa y in g con
tin u e s * were n o t b o t h e r e d by such t h i n g s . My p o i n t sh o u ld
be c l e a r by now: th e e v id e n c e p r e s e n t e d th u s f a r i n d i c a t e s
t h a t th e T a le o f M elibee c o n t a i n s o n ly one p a s s a g e o f u n - j
m is ta k a b le a lle g o r y * and one o t h e r p a s s a g e t h a t e x p l a i n s
i t . T hat t h i s openin g p a s s a g e o f a l l e g o r y h a s some r e f
e re n c e to th e e v e n ts and long d i s c u s s i o n t h a t fo llo w I s i
c le a r * b u t I t would be a m is ta k e to a p p ly th e a l l e g o r y too j
c l o s e l y to th e r e s t . The f o r g i v e n e s s t h a t M elibeu s e x - j
|
te n d s i s to h i s human foes* and n o t l i t e r a l l y to th e D e v il, j
j
At th e end* a lm o st e v e ry s t r u c t u r a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f th e |
|
t a l e I s w orking tow ard a d e f i n i t i o n o f human f o r g i v e n e s s . |
i
I know o f no C h r i s t i a n d o c t r i n e t h a t fo rb id B a man from j
i
e x te n d in g f o r g i v e n e s s to th e D e v il f o r w hat th e D e v il h a s j
4o |
done to him p e r s o n a lly * b u t t h i s o n ly i l l u s t r a t e s how t e n - |
t a t i v e th e a l l e g o r y i s a t t h i s p o i n t ,
T his view o f th e l i m i t s o f th e a l l e g o r y i n th e M elibee j
would seem to c o in c id e w ith Graham H ough's d e f i n i t i o n o f j
i t s s i m p le s t l i t e r a r y form,, w hat he c a l l s "n a iv e a l l e g o r y " ! |
In n a iv e a l l e g o r y theme i s c o m p le te ly dominant* image |
m e re ly a r h e t o r i c a l c o n v en ien c e w ith no l i f e o f i t s own, j
. . , I t i s p r o p e r l y d e s c r i b e d i n th e term s w hich a n t i - I
a l l e g o r i c a l c r i t i c s u se o f a l l e g o r y i n g e n e r a l — a p ic tu re -f
w r i t i n g to t r a n s c r i b e p r e c o n c e iv e d i d e a s . Where theme i s j
so c o m p le te ly dominant* image te n d s to become in c o h e r e n t* j
i n s i p i d o r c h a r a c t e r l e s s ; and we a r e on th e v e rg e o f
p a s s i n g o u t o f l i t e r a t u r e a lt o g e t h e r * i n t o m oral s u a s i o n * ;
| p o l i t i c a l p ro p ag a n d a o r w hat n o t . Naive a l l e g o r y a p p e a rs;
i n l i t e r a t u r e p r o p e r m ain ly i n th e form o f sm a ll p a t c h e s j
i n long and complex works c o n c e iv e d on o t h e r l i n e s ; and i
th e y c a n n o t s u s t a i n more th a n a v e ry l i m i t e d amount o f
I i t . (A P re fa c e to The F a e r i e Qpeene* p p . 106-107)
i !
. Some c r i t i c s o f th e M elibee have s e i z e d upon i t s
" s m a ll p a tc h " o f o p en in g a lle g o r y * a p p l i e d i t w ith g r e a t I
i ' |
r i g o r to th e r e s t o f th e a c tio n * and th e n d e c l a r e d t h a t i t |
i
i s a bad a l l e g o r y b e c a u se Prudence seems to make a d e a l !
j
w ith S a ta n . A c tu a lly * however* th e work i s "c o n c e iv e d on i
]
o t h e r l i n e s " th a n a l l e g o r y - - l i n e s w hich sh o u ld d e m o n s tra te i
t h a t such c r i t i c s a r e q u i b b l i n g . P or an o v e rlo o k e d i n - j
d i c a t i o n o f where th e fo rm al t r a d i t i o n o f th e T ale o f j
M elibee r e a l l y l i e s * we a re i n d e b t e d f i r s t to Thor Sundby*
who made t h i s o b s e r v a t i o n i n 1873J !
One c irc u m s ta n c e th& t h a s c e r t a i n l y c o n t r i b u t e d v e ry muchj
to th e p o p u l a r i t y o f t h i s t r e a t i s e * i s th e form o f t a l e j
cho sen by th e a u th o r f o r conveying to th e p u b l i c h i s
m o ral i n s t r u c t i o n s . . . . [ I t ] h a s some re se m b la n c e to
th e book o f B o e th iu s on th e C o n s o la tio n o f Philosophy*
h i s P r u d e n t ia i s n o t w ith o u t a c e r t a i n a n a lo g y to th e
P h i l o s o p h i a o f B o e th iu s . ( L ib e r C o n s o l a t i o n ! s * p . xv)
' " "iij
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , Sundby d id n o t e l a b o r a t e on t h i s " a n a l- j
ogy"; b u t he i s n o t th e o n ly one to n o t i c e th e r e s e m b l a n c e . ;
Howard R o l l i n P a t c h * i n The T r a d i t i o n o f B o e t h i u s , l i s t s j
I
A l b e r t a n o 's L ib e r C o n s o l a ti o n i s e t C o n s i l i i among [
a number o f works where i t would seem t h a t th e a u th o r s !
were i n s p i r e d by B o e th iu s m a in ly to a p p r e c i a t e th e form j
o f h i s t r e a t i s e . , . . The a l l e g o r i c a l m ethod, a l s o , o f j
s e t t i n g f o r t h a d i s c u s s i o n o f s e r i o u s p ro b lem s was p a r
t i c u l a r l y to th e t a s t e o f th e M iddle Ages; and, a lth o u g h |
i t was f a m i l i a r i n th e works o f P r u d e n tiu s and o t h e r s ,
s u r e l y i t g a in e d some o f i t s p o p u l a r i t y from th e l i t t l e
book which became so w id e ly known. The S o c r a t i c s t y l e
too o f d e a l in g w ith p ro b lem s i n d i a l o g u e , o f showing th e ■
' s i c e t n o n 1 by q u e s t io n and a n sw er, was c e r t a i n l y l e s s
f a m i l i a r th ro u g h th e works o f P l a to th a n i n th e p a g es o f ;
B o e th iu s . F u rth e rm o re th e c o n te n t o f th e book p e rm e a te d ,!
a s we have se e n , th e th o u g h t o f men f o r a t l e a s t a th o u - i
sand y e a r s ; and i t foun d new e x p r e s s io n i n v a r i o u s fo rm s,I
o f f e r i n g c o n s o l a t i o n f o r i l l s o t h e r th a n th o s e s p e c i f i c a l- f
l y o f p r i s o n and exile.5
R eg ard in g th e work i t s e l f , P a tc h w r i t e s : j
C e r t a i n l y th e c a d re o f th e s t o r y i s u n iq u e . Y et i n th e |
i d e a o f h u m i l i a t i o n and th e c o m fo rt s u p p l i e d by th e j
p h i l o s o p h i c a l la d y , one can seenhow th e i n s p i r a t i o n o f |
B o e th iu s was made p r a c t i c a l , and a work o f a r t t r a n s - j
l a t e d i n a se n se from B o e th iu s i n t o e n t e r t a i n i n g m edi
o c r i t y . (The T r a d i t i o n o f B o e t h i u s , p . 9^)
A c l o s e r com parison o f th e two works r e v e a l s much j
a b o u t th e s t r u c t u r e and t r a d i t i o n o f th e T ale o f M e lib e e . j
We may a s w e ll b e g in w ith th e one c o n v e n tio n t h a t b o th j
Sundby and P a tc h m en tio n : th e " p h i l o s o p h i c a l l a d y ." In j
The C o n s o la tio n , she a p p e a rs i n a v i s i o n to a p r i s o n e r , j
i
I
p re su m a b ly B o e th iu s h i m s e l f , who h a s been s t r i p p e d o f h i s j
g r e a t p o l i t i c a l power and p o s s e s s i o n s , s e p a r a t e d from h i s
| T i
J The T r a d i t i o n o f B o e th iu s : A Study o f H is Im p o rta n c e j
i n M e d iev a lT C u ltu re (New Y ork, 1935) j PP. 8 7 -8 8 , j
42 I
f a m ily , and condemned to d e a th by h i s enem ies i n th e Roman j
S e n a te . He i s s i c k w ith sorro w , and b e g in s to do ubt Godrs i
I
f
P ro v id e n c e : he c a n n o t u n d e r s ta n d how a j u s t God c o u ld p e r - j
m it th e w icked to overcome th e good. In th e m id s t o f h i s \
[
g r e a t p e r s o n a l and i n t e l l e c t u a l sorrow t h e r e a p p e a rs above !
him ;
a woman o f m a j e s t i c co u n te n an c e whose f l a s h i n g eyes
seemed w ise beyond th e o r d i n a r y wisdom o f men. Her c o lo r ;
was b r i g h t , s u g g e s tin g b o u n d le s s v i g o r , and y e t she I
seemed so o ld t h a t she c o u ld n o t be th o u g h t o f a s b e - |
lo n g in g to o u r a g e . Her h e i g h t seemed to v a ry : some
tim e s she seemed o f o r d i n a r y human s t a t u r e , th en a g a in
h e r h e ad seemed to to u c h th e to p o f th e h e a v e n s .6
I Lady P h ilo s o p h y , o b v io u s ly , i s an a l l e g o r i c a l f i g u r e .
i
i :
| She r e p r e s e n t s wisdom and l e a r n i n g i n t h e i r h i g h e s t s e n s e s ,
and more d i r e c t l y , th e p e r f e c t a p p l i c a t i o n o f human r e a s o n .
She engages th e p r i s o n e r i n a d i a l o g u e . "You a r e s u f f e r i n g
m e re ly from l e t h a r g y , " she t e l l s him, " th e common i l l n e s s
o f d e c e iv e d m inds. You have f o r g o t t e n y o u r s e l f a l i t t l e . !
. . . Do you suppose t h a t t h i s i s th e f i r s t tim e wisdom
h a s been a t t a c k e d and e n d an g e re d by w icked men?" ( The
C o n s o la tio n o f P h ilo s o p h y , p p . 6 - 7 ) . The s o l u t i o n a p p e a rs .
v e ry e a r l y , and h a s a f a i r l y o b v io u s re se m b la n c e to th e
s i t u a t i o n i n M e lib e e . P h ilo s o p h y s t a t e s :
You s h o u ld n o t be s u r p r i s e d , th e n , i f we a r e blown a b o u t
by sto rm y winds i n th e voyage o f t h i s l i f e , s in c e o u r j
main d u ty i s to oppose th e w ic k ed . B u t, even though o u r j
enem ies a r e num erous, we s h o u ld sp u rn them b e c a u se th e y
a r e w i t h o u t l e a d e r s h i p and a r e d r iv e n f r a n t i c a l l y t h i s
^ B o e th iu s , The C o n s o la tio n o f P h ilo s o p h y , t r a n s .
R ic h a rd Green (New'York, 1962), p . 3* '
43!
i
way and t h a t by e r r o r . And i f th e y som etim es a t t a c k u s
w ith e x t r a o r d i n a r y f o r c e , o u r l e a d e r w ith d raw s h e r f o l
lo w e rs i n t ^ a f o r t r e s s , le a v in g o u r enem ies to w a ste
t h e i r e n e r g i e s on w o r t h l e s s s p o i l s . W hile t h e y f i g h t
o v e r t h in g s o f no v a lu e , we la u g h a t them from above,
s a f e from t h e i r f u r y and d efe n d ed by a s t r e n g t h a g a i n s t i
w hich t h e i r a g g r e s s iv e f o l l y c a n n o t p r e v a i l . ( The Con
s o l a t i o n o f P h ilo s o p h y , p p . 6 -7 )
B ut th e p r i s o n e r i s too overcome by h i s m is e ry to u n - \
d e r s t a n d th e l a d y Js c o u n s e l. He g i v e s a long a c c o u n t o f - ,
| h i s l i n j u s t t r e a tm e n t a t th e hands o f h i s enem ies i n th e
! S e n a te ; he se e s e v i l men everyw here tr iu m p h a n t, and th e
f |
I in n o c e n t l e f t w ith o u t any r e f u g e , "Why sh o u ld u n c e r t a i n
F o rtu n e c o n t r o l o u r l i v e s ? " he a s k s God. "Calm th e r o l l i n g !
waves and, as You r u l e th e immense h e a v e n s, r u l e a ls o th e
j e a r t h i n s t a b l e concord" ( The C o n s o la tio n o f P h ilo s o p h y ,
| pp. 1 5 -1 6 ).
| Lady P h ilo so p h y i s " q u i t e undism ayed" by a l l t h i s
| r a n t ; she s e e s now how t r u l y s i c k he i s . In h i s g r e a t
! ;
| sorrow th e p r i s o n e r h a s f o r g o t t e n t h a t th e b l i n d t r i c k s o f 5
I ;
J F o rtu n e a r e m ere ly a r e f l e c t i o n o f th e t r a n s i t o r y n a t u r e ;
o f human l i f e . He t h i n k s t h a t th e w o rld i s g o v e rn e d by
c h a n c e , and n o t by a r a t i o n a l and d i v in e C r e a t o r . He i s
a s k in g f o r a sy ste m o f te m p o ra l re w a rd s and p u n ish m e n ts I
i
b a se d on m e r i t , b u t t h a t i s n o t th e way th e w o rld w orks. j
He h a s f o r g o t t e n , i n s h o r t , t h a t F o rtu n e o n ly " c o n t r o l s " I
s
I
th o s e who have e n s la v e d th e m s e lv e s to th e t h i n g s o f t h i s I
w o rld , and t h a t f o r 'th e w ise man th e o n ly s o l u t i o n i s to j
r e a l i z e t h a t no human h a p p in e s s i s e v e r p e rm a n e n t, to j
s t r i v e f o r th e H i g h e s t Good,, w hich i s God., and to b e a r up '
u n d e r a d v e r s i t y . j
B u t, a s t h e l a d y r e a l i z e s , i t i s g o in g to t a k e a much j
l o n g e r d i s c u s s i o n to c o n v in c e t h e p r i s o n e r o f h i s e r r o r s 1
and r e p a i r h i s d e f e c t i v e v iew o f l i f e . He i s so d i s t u r b e d ;
t h a t he c a n n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h e s im p le t r u t h j she m ust p r o - |
c e e d c a r e f u l l y and m e t h o d i c a l l y :
B e ca u se you a r e so u p s e t by s o rro w and a n g e r , and so
blow n a b o u t by t h e tu m u lt o f y o u r f e e l i n g s , you a r e n o t
now i n t h e r i g h t fram e o f m ind to t a k e s t r o n g m e d ic in e .
P o r t h e tim e b e i n g , t h e n , I s h a l l u s e more g e n t l e t r e a t -
| m en t, so t h a t y o u r h a r d e n e d and e x c i t e d c o n d i t i o n may be ;
! s o f t e n e d by g e n t l e h a n d l i n g an d t h u s p r e p a r e d f o r more
! p o t e n t r e m e d i e s . ( The C o n s o l a ti o n o f P h i l o s o p h y , p . 17)
i
! I t w i l l n o t be n e c e s s a r y to p a r a p h r a s e th e r e s t o f
i :
t h i s lo n g a n d com plex d i a l o g u e . I t s h o u ld be s u f f i c i e n t
I to n o te t h e g e n e r a l form o f th e r e s t o f t h e G o n s o l a t i o n ,
I and th e r o l e o f Lady P h il o s o p h y . As P a tc h h a s a l r e a d y
| |
I p o i n t e d o u t , t h e d i a l o g u e i s i n t h e " S o c r a t i c s t y l e . " ;
! ' . I
j B o e t h i u s , a s i s w e l l known, was p r o b a b l y t h e c h i e f e x - I
p o n e n t o f P l a t o n i c s t u d i e s i n h i s tim e . R educed to lo w e s t j
te r m s , t h e S o c r a t i c d i a l o g u e i s s im p ly t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f j
a p h i l o s o p h i c a l p r o b le m i n d i s c u s s i o n fo rm . One o f th e
p a r t i e s d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e e r r o n e o u s s i d e o f th e i s s u e , th e
I
o t h e r , th e S o c r a t i c f i g u r e , l e a d s t h e c o n fu s e d p a r t y to j
t h e c o r r e c t s o l u t i o n , Q u e s tio n s and a n s w e rs on b o t h s i d e s
a d v an c e t h e a rg u m e n t, and th e d i s c u s s i o n i s o n e - s i d e d . The
S o c r a t i c f i g u r e l e a d s th e o t h e r g r a d u a l l y , from p o i n t to
p o i n t , o f t e n d e v e lo p in g them a t l e n g t h , u n t i l , a s John T.
45
M c N e ill p o i n t s out., "he r e d u c e s h i s i n t e r v i e w e r to a s t a t e ;
o f c o m p le te p e r p l e x i t y ( a p o r i a ) an d s e l f - d i s t r u s t . The
p e r s o n i n e r r o r i s now ready., and u s u a l l y w i l l i n g to f o l l o w j
h i s l e a d e r ’ s r e a s o n i n g t o a s o l u t i o n , '
Lady P h ilo s o p h y p e r f o r m s a f u n c t i o n a n a lo g o u s to ;
S o c r a t e s ’ i n t h e d i a l e c t i c o f th e C o n s o l a t i o n . She g e n t l y !
and g r a d u a l l y e x p o s e s th e c o n t r a d i c t i o n i n t h e p r i s o n e r ' s
t h i n k i n g : he b e l i e v e s i n a j u s t and d i v i n e C r e a t o r , y e t he ;
f e e l s t h a t men a r e t r e a t e d u n f a i r l y . He a c k n o w le d g e s th e
! c o n t r a d i c t i o n and a ll o w s Lady P h ilo s o p h y to d e m o n s tr a te
I
| t h a t t h e se c o n d p r o p o s i t i o n m ust b e f a l s e . The w ic k e d ,
i
I th o u g h th e y a p p e a r to tr iu m p h on e a r t h , do n o t i n f a c t
| b e c a u s e t h e y p u r s u e o n ly t r a n s i t o r y p l e a s u r e s i n t h e t h i n g s
j
I o f t h i s w o rld r a t h e r t h a n th e h a p p i n e s s w h ich can come from:
t
l
| s e e k in g o n ly th e H i g h e s t Good, w h ic h i s God. Now, more
i m p o r t a n t p a r t i c u l a r l y to o u r s t u d y o f t h e form o f t h e
T a le o f M e lib e e i s o u r r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e S o c r a t i c f e a - j
t u r e s - ~ t h e o n e - s i d e d n e s s o f th e d i s c u s s i o n , t h e q u e s t i o n ;
j
and a n sw e r p r o g r e s s i o n , a n d th e p e r p l e x e d , y e t w i l l i n g , j
s e c o n d p a r t y . The p r i s o n e r w a n ts to know t h e t r u t h , and
c o n s t a n t l y a s k s f o r c l a r i f i c a t i o n and e n l i g h t e n m e n t , b u t
j
when t h e t r u t h i s p r e s e n t e d he h a s t h e te n d e n c y t o m is - j
i n t e r p r e t o r m i s u n d e r s ta n d i t . He i s n o t c o n v in c e d u n t i l
I
j
H i s t o r y o f th e Cure o f S o u ls (New Y o rk , 1951) .> P*
22 . !
th e l a s t argum ent i s i n . As l a t e as Book XV o f th e Con
s o l a t i o n he i s s t i l l e x c la im in g t h a t !
i t i s even more amazing t h a t w ith w ic k ed n e ss i n f u l l j
c o n t r o l , v i r t u e n o t o n ly g o e s u n rew ard e d , b u t i s tram p led ;
u n d e r f o o t by th e wicke-d and i s p u n is h e d i n s t e a d o f v i c e , j
T h at t h i s can happen i n th e re a lm o f an a ll-k n o w in g and
a l l - p o w e r f u l God who d e s i r e s o n ly good must be a c au se
o f s u r p r i s e and so rro w to e v e ry o n e . (C o n s o l a ti o n , p . 75)!
Now i f we can r e f e r to o u r p a r a p h r a s e o f th e T a le o f
M elibee w ith t h i s i n mind, th e g e n e r a l fo rm al p a r a l l e l s
s h o u ld be c l e a r . M elibeus i s a man who h a s been s e v e r e l y
] a t t a c k e d by h i s e n em ie s. B ecause o f t h i s , l i k e th e p r i s -
i
| o n e r i n th e C o n s o l a ti o n , he i s a f f l i c t e d w ith such sorrow
| i
t h a t he c a n n o t t h i n k s t r a ig h t - - " M y n h e r t e i s t r o u b l e d w ith
t h i s sorwe so g r e v o u s ly t h a t I n o o t w hat to doone" (V I I .
10 01). H is f i r s t im p u lse i s to s t r i k e b a c k , to c u re one
c o n t r a r y by a n o th e r . But Prudence i n t e r v e n e s and shows
! !
j him th e c o n t r a d i c t i o n i n h i s t h i n k i n g . The c o n t r a r y o f
i . ;
i j
| a t t a c k i s n o t a t t a c k , b u t r a t h e r f o r g i v e n e s s . Vengeance j
: |
j b e lo n g s to God. The d i a l e c t i c by means o f w hich t h e s e ;
S !
p o i n t s a re e s t a b l i s h e d i s c l e a r l y o n e - s i d e d . P ru d e n ce , in |
j
th e S o c r a t i c r o l e , d e v e lo p s and g u id e s th e d i a l e c t i c , o ften !
i
!
a t g r e a t — and d i g r e s s i v e - - l e n g t h . M elib eu s w i l l i n g l y f o l - j
lows b u t c o n s t a n t l y m is u n d e r s ta n d s . L ike th e p r i s o n e r , he
|
d ra g s h i s f e e t down th e ro a d to t r u t h ; he c a n n o t shake h i s
i n c l i n a t i o n to v e n g ea n ce , j u s t a s th e p r i s o n e r c an n o t d i s
m iss h i s f e e l i n g t h a t l i f e i s u n j u s t .
47
In o r d e r to see th e r e l a t i o n s h i p betw een t h e s e two
works even more c l e a r l y , we sh o u ld r e c a l l P a t c h 's s t a t e m e n t :
t h a t A lb e rta n o was ’’i n s p i r e d by B o e th iu s m ain ly to a p p r e c i - j
a t e th e form o f h i s t r e a t i s e / ’ and t h a t th e ’’c a d re " o f i
M elib eu s i s " u n iq u e ." The d ra m a tic b ackground o f th e
M e lib e e — th e c h a r a c t e r s , s i t u a t i o n s . , and t h e m e s - - d i f f e r s
g r e a t l y from t h a t o f th e C o n s o l a t i o n . The p l o t o f th e
M e lib e e , to p u t i t m il d l y , i s more mundane. Dame Prudence
i
s
| i s no g ra n d a b s t r a c t i o n ; she i s m e re ly a w if e , o r con-
I
s i d e r e d a l l e g o r i c a l l y , a m e n ta l f a c u l t y . The theme o f th e
M elibee i s l ik e w i s e more r e s t r i c t e d , l i m i t e d , th a n t h a t o f •
| th e C o n s o l a t i o n . M elibeus i s n o t a f f l i c t e d w ith a n y th in g
I ;
a s p h i l o s o p h i c a l l y o r e m o t i o n a l ly complex a s th e p r i s o n e r * s ;
| sorrow . H is v e n g e f u l a n g e r does n o t r e q u i r e a J u s t i f i c a -
| t i o n o f th e u n i v e r s a l scheme o f t h i n g s . And we a r e n o t j
I i
I t r y i n g to e s t a b l i s h th e C o n s o la tio n a s a so u rc e f o r M e li- |
b e e , b u t o n ly a s a g e n e r a l a n a lo g u e i n form . B ut th e s e
g r e a t d i f f e r e n c e s do. n o t n e g a te t h e i r a lm o st e x a c t - - c a l l
i t a r c h e t y p a l — s i m i l a r i t y . A p o w e rfu l and r e s p e c t e d man
i s a t t a c k e d by h i s e n e m ie s. H is sorrow o v e r t h i s m is
f o r t u n e i s so s e v e r e t h a t i t c lo u d s h i s t h in k i n g ; he does
n o t know how to re s p o n d to th e a t t a c k , o r i f he t h i n k s he
does he i s wrong. A la d y o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y i n t e l l e c t
g u id e s him , by means o f a p h i l o s o p h i c a l d ia l o g u e , back to
th e t r u t h a b o u t h i s c o n d i t i o n .
I f o u r c o m p a ris o n o f t h e C o n s o l a ti o n o f P h il o s o p h y and
t h e T a le o f M e lib e e i s v a l i d , i t may h e l p to e x p l a i n th e
s o - c a l l e d i n c o n s i s t e n c y i n t h e a l l e g o r y o f M e l i b e e . C r i t
i c s l i k e Raymond P r e s t o n h av e l a b e l e d th e a l l e g o r i c a l s e c
t i o n s o f M e lib e e a s e i t h e r "an e x c u s e " o r an " i l l - a d v i s e d
d i g r e s s i o n " — t h a t i s , th e y h a v e no r e a l r e l a t i o n to t h e
w ork a s a w h o le , o r , i f t h e y do, t h a t r e l a t i o n i s i n c o n
s i s t e n t — even h u m o r o u s - - s i n c e P ru d e n c e w ould seem to make
a p a c t w ith S a t a n . Now I have b e en s u g g e s t i n g t h a t t h i s
I may n o t be su c h an " e i t h e r - o r " p ro b le m ; t h a t M e lib e e h a s
b o t h a l i t e r a l and an a l l e g o r i c a l d im e n sio n a t th e same
I tim e , and t h a t when A l b e r t a n o shows M e lib e u s and P ru d e n ce
i
f o r g i v i n g t h e t h r e e e n em ie s a t t h e end o f th e t a l e he
w is h e s u s to c o n s i d e r them m a in ly a s l i t e r a l c h a r a c t e r s —
r e a l en em ie s o f M e l ib e u s — and p r o b a b l y o n ly i n th e l i g h t e s t !
|
s e n s e a s t h e w o r ld , th e f l e s h and t h e D e v i l , s u b j e c t e d and j
£
i
f o r g i v e n i n t h e m ind o f a man by v i r t u e o f h i s p r u d e n c e . i
J
I n d e e d , I h a v e s t r o n g d o u b ts t h a t t h i s l a t t e r m eaning was I
[
e v e r i n t e n d e d by A l b e r t a n o a t a l l ; i n o t h e r w o rd s , I do notj
b e l i e v e t h a t M e lib e e i s a c o m p le te , o r was m eant to be a
c o n s i s t e n t , a l l e g o r y , and t h e C o n s o l a t i o n — p e r h a p s i t s
c l o s e s t s t r u c t u r a l a n a l o g u e - - i s a c a s e i n p o i n t . T h ere i s
u n m i s t a k a b l e a l l e g o r y i n t h e C o n s o l a t i o n , b u t i t h a r d l y
r i s e s above t h e l e v e l o f p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n . I n o t h e r w o rd s,
t h e d i a l o g u e b e tw e e n P h ilo s o p h y and t h e p r i s o n e r r e p r e s e n t s
t h e h e a l i n g o f a s i c k m ind by t h e r e s o u r c e s o f wisdom and j
4 9
method p r e v i o u s l y a cc u m u late d by t h a t mind when i t was !
h e a l t h y . Lady P h ilo so p h y r e p r e s e n t s th e l e a r n i n g t h a t
e v e ry man s h o u ld have., and th e p r is o n e r., to a c e r t a i n e x
t e n t , i s Everyman, F o rtu n e a p p e a rs a s a p e rs o n and d e
fe n d s h e r s e l f . But t h i s i s a b o u t a s f a r as t h e a l l e g o r y
g o e s . The p r i s o n e r ' s en em ies, l i k e M e l ib e u s ', a re l i t e r a l
j
j f i g u r e s — a s a m a t t e r o f f a c t th e y a r e th e a c t u a l p o l i t i c a l
!
i
I enem ies o f B o e th iu s h i m s e l f , a m a t t e r o f h i s t o r i c a l r e c o r d .
N e i th e r th e C o n s o la tio n n o r th e M elibee w i l l s ta n d
f u l l com parison w ith th e Psychom achia o r th e Romance o f th e
R ose, The fo rm er two a re a l l e g o r i c a l o n ly i n t h e i r l i m i t e d
I '
I u s e o f p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n i n r e p r e s e n t i n g m e n ta l f a c u l t i e s
and m e ta p h y s ic a l a b s t r a c t i o n s such a s F o rtu n e , o r th e
w o rld . C. S. Lewis sums up th e m a t t e r n e a t l y :
| The Dark Ages p ro d u c e d few o r i g i n a l a l l e g o r i c a l poems on |
th e l a r g e s c a l e ; b u t th e y k e p t a l i v e th e mood w hich was j
l a t e r to b e g e t such poems, th e y r e a d and adm ired th e |
o l d e r a l l e g o r i s t s , and th e y c o n s t a n t l y employed a l l e g o r y j
i n th e p a r t s , i f n o t i n th e s t r u c t u r e , o f t h e i r w orks. j
Thus i t would be odd to c l a s s B o e th iu s as an a l l e g o r i s t , j
On th e o t h e r hand, h i s u s e o f p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n i n th e f i g - i
u r e o f P h i l o s o p h i a r a i s e s p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n to a new d i g - . I
n i t y . . . . He h i m s e l f does n o t g r e a t l y a l l e g o r i z e . „ j
(A lle g o r y o f Love, p . 84) j
The fo rm a l t r a d i t i o n to which b o th th e C o n s o la tio n and
th e T ale o f M elibee a c t u a l l y b e lo n g i s c l e a r l y i n d i c a t e d by
t h e i r L a tin t i t l e s . I t i s th e t r a d i t i o n o f th e c o n s o l a t i o ;
and a g e n e r a l d i s c u s s i o n o f th e h i s t o r y and c o n v e n tio n s o f
t h i s form w i l l h e lp to c l a r i f y th e r e l a t i o n s h i p betw een
t h e s e two works and e s t a b l i s h an u l t i m a t e s o u rc e f o r th e j
s t r u c t u r e and i n t e n t i o n o f th e T a le o f M e lib e e.
50
I am g r e a t l y I n d e b te d to S i s t e r Mary Edmond Eern f o r
a s h o r t h i s t o r y o f th e Greek and L a tin c o n s o l a t i o . She
w r i t e s j |
The c o n s o l a t i o i s a l i t e r a r y form o f Greek o r i g i n , w hich ■
had f o r i t s o b j e c t th e remedy o r a l l e v i a t i o n o f th e m ala
d i e s o f th e s o u l . Greek p h i l o s o p h e r s i n t h e i r e f f o r t s to:
d e f i n e th e s o u l made some s u b t l e and d e l i c a t e a n a ly s e s
w hich r e v e a l e d t h a t th e s o u l , j u s t a s th e body, had i t s
’d i s e a s e s 1; and among th e s e th e y c o n s id e r e d so rro w and
th e v a r i o u s form s o f d i s t r e s s . ^
N a t u r a l l y , each ty p e o f d i s t r e s s and i t s a t t e n d a n t c irc u m
s t a n c e s r e q u i r e d d i f f e r e n t c o n s o l a t o r y r e f l e c t i o n s , b u t
! ;
| th e m ethod, th e l i t e r a r y c o n v e n tio n , was a lm o st alw ays th e
| same: a r a t i o n a l p r o g r e s s i o n o f p h i l o s o p h i c a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s
d e s ig n e d to r e s t o r e m e n ta l b a la n c e , th e a ssu m p tio n b e in g — I
: a s John T. M cN eill p o i n t s o u t — t h a t "when th e s o u l ’B i r
r a t i o n a l a g i t a t i o n s te n d to mount and to b u r s t a l l r e -
j s t r a i n t , t h e i r c u re l i e s i n v i r t u e a lo n e , v i r t u e b e in g |
j
alw ays a s s o c i a t e d w ith re a s o n " (A H i s t o r y o f th e Cure o f I
S o u ls , p . 29). A ccording to S i s t e r Edmond, by th e tim e o f j
Seneca th e " s c ie n c e o f c o n s o l a t i o n was q u i t e d e v elo p ed " i n j
L a t i n ( The L a tin C o n s o l a t i o , p . 6 ) ; t h e r e f o r e , we m ig h t j
c o n s i d e r one o f S e n e c a 's fo rm a l c o n s o l a t i o n s a s a g e n e r a l j
I
i
i
example o f th e form . ;
j
!
In h i s C o n s o la tio ad Marciam Seneca a d d r e s s e s a prom- ]
i n e n t woman who h a s c o n s i d e r a b ly p r o lo n g e d h e r m ourning j
j
®The L a tin C o n s o la tio a s a L i t e r a r y Type- ( S t . L o u is , I
1 9 4 1 ), p . 3. !
5 1 !
over the death o f h er son M e tiliu s. I w ill quote S i s t e r I
Edmond's convenient summary o f the main id eas:
( l ) T here i s no p r o f i t i n g r i e f , (2) D eath makes e v e r y - i
t h in g e q u a l, b o th what you r e s p e c t and what you d e s p i s e .
( 3 ) He whom d e a th h a s ta k e n was a so u rc e o f h a p p in e s s to :
h e r ; t h e r e f o r e th e remembrance o f p a s t jo y s sh o u ld con-
I s o l e . (4) O th e rs , to o , have s u f f e r e d . ( 5 ) Those s t i l l
j w ith h e r sh o u ld be a so u rc e o f c o m fo rt. (6) F o rtu n e
d e a l s i n d i f f e r e n t l y w ith a l l . ( 7 ) The law o f d e a th i s
i n e x o r a b l e . (8) He who h a s d ie d h a s sim p ly p o s t e d on
ah ea d . ( 9 ) D eath i s no e v i l . (lO) A ll human t h i n g s a r e
t r a n s i t o r y . ( l l ) The r o a d to heaven i s e a s i e r f o r th o s e
who d ie young. (12) The remembrance o f th e v i r t u e s o f
th e d e p a r t e d sh o u ld c o n s o le , ( 1 3) M e t i l i u s s t i l l l i v e s .
( The L a tin C o n s o la tio , p . 64)
j Now the Tale o f Melibee in v o lv es a l o t more than p ro
longed g r i e f over a dead c h ild , but i t s b a sic co n so lato ry
I r o o ts show very p la in ly in the opening se c tio n . Note the
| g en e ra l analogy: M elibeus 1 daughter Sophie has been b ru -
| t a l l y beaten and l e f t fo r dead. He i s w ild w ith g r i e f ,
bu t h is w ife Prudence remembers a "sentence o f Ovide": i
'He i s a fo o l th a t d esto u rb eth the mooder to wepen in
the deeth o f h ir e c h ild , t i l she have wept h i r f i l l e as
fo r a c e r te in ty m e ;/ and thanne sh a l man doon h is d i l i
gence w ith amyable wordes h ir e to re c o n fo rte , and preyen !
h ir e o f h i r wepyng fo r to s t y n t e , ' ( V I I .977-978) j
i
"A llas, my lo rd ," quod she, "why make ye y o u re s e lf f o r to
|
be lyk a fo o l" (V I I . 9 8 0) —wise men d o n 't make "swich a |
sorwe"; even I f Sophie were dead i t would not be reaso n - j
i
|
a b le . A ctu ally , Prudence p o in ts o u t, Sophie—w ith God's |
!
g r a c e - - w ill su rv iv e . Not s u r p ris in g ly . Prudence uses j
Seneca as p a r t o f h er co n so lato ry s tra te g y : j
Senek s e i t h : 'The w ise man s h a l n a t ta k e to g r e e t d i s - j
c o n f o r t f o r th e d e e th o f h i s c h i l d r e n ; / b u t c e r t e s , he
s h o ld e s u f f r e n I t i n p a c ie n c e a s w el a s he a b id e th th e
d e e th o f h i s owene p r o p r e p e r s o n e . ' ( V I I .984-985) !
52 !
i
In s h o r t , th e op en in g s e c t i o n o f th e T ale o f M elib ee
(V I I . 967- 1 0 0 0) e x h i b i t s many o f th e c o n v e n tio n s o f th e
c o n s o l a t i o a d d re s s e d to a g r i e v i n g p a r e n t . T hat th e t a l e
i ■ 1
th e n b ra n c h e s i n t o a d i s c u s s i o n o f v en g ean ce. F o r tu n e ,
good c o u n s e l, th e u se o f r i c h e s , and f o r g i v e n e s s i n no way
n e g a te s th e re s e m b la n c e . The c o n s o l a t i o , a s I have s a i d
b e f o r e , was a f l e x i b l e c o n v e n tio n . Howard P a tc h sounds
I ' ■
I a lm o st n a iv e when he s t a t e s t h a t th e form o f B o e t h i u s 1
j
1c o n s o l a t i o was u s e d i n " o f f e r i n g c o n s o l a t i o n f o r i l l s o t h e r ;
, th a n th o s e s p e c i f i c a l l y o f p r i s o n and e x i l e " (The T r a d i t i o n
I o f B o e t h i u s , p . 88). T h is freedom was i n h e r e n t In th e
form i t s e l f a good w h ile b e f o r e B o e th iu s , and th e C o n so la - I
t i o n o f P h ilo s o p h y I s n o t so much th e s o u rc e as th e r e s u l t j
o f t h i s f l e x i b i l i t y . As S i s t e r Edmond e x p l a i n s : \
I
A lth o u g h t h i s s p e c i e s o f w r i t i n g was bound by r u l e s and
c o n v e n tio n s , y e t t h e r e was an o p p o r t u n i t y i n th e I n d iv id u
a l c o n s o l a t i o o f g iv in g a new t u r n and c o l o r to th e o ld
form . I t s d i s t i n c t i v e v a lu e depended upon th e new r e
s u l t , th e o r i g i n a l i t y w hich th e a u th o r a c h ie v e d In e a c h !
c a s e . The c ir c u m s ta n c e s o f th e p a r t i c u l a r sorro w , th e j
i n d i v i d u a l i t y o f th e p e rs o n c o n c e rn e d , th e d i g r e s s i o n
I n t r o d u c e d to a t t a i n th e new r e s u l t , even th e s t y l e o f
th e w r i t e r - - a l l th e s e were s u f f i c i e n t to d i f f e r e n t i a t e
and le a v e a wide m arg in f o r t r e a tm e n t and l o c a l c o l o r .
(The L a t in C o n s o l a t i o , p , 7)
B o e th i u s ' g r e a t i n n o v a t i o n s I n th e form a r e h i s u se j
o f th e S o c r a t i c d i a l o g u e , and th e a l l e g o r i c a l - d r a m a t i c
fram ework he b u i l d s to s e t o f f h i s c o n s o l a t o r y t h i n k i n g - - !
b o th o f w hich a r e r e f l e c t e d In th e s t r u c t u r e o f th e T ale !
o f M e lib e e . B ut .e x ce p t i n v e ry g e n e r a l r e s p e c t s , a s d e
s c r i b e d b e f o r e , th e s e two c o n s o l a t i o n es go t h e i r d i f f e r e n t
53
w ays, b e c a u se " th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s o f th e p a r t i c u l a r sorrow "
a r e d i f f e r e n t , a s w e ll a s " th e i n d i v i d u a l i t y o f th e p e rs o n
c o n c e rn e d ." The p r i s o n e r ' s d e s p a i r h a s a complex p h i l o
s o p h i c a l b a s i s ; M e lib e u s' w ra th i s sim p le , sudden, and, as
i t t u r n s o u t , r a t h e r c h i l d i s h . T h is i s enough to e x p la in
many o f th e d i f f e r e n c e s betw een M elibee and th e C o n so la tio n :
eac h d i s e a s e o f th e s o u l r e q u i r e s a d i f f e r e n t a p p ro a c h .
!
A c t u a l l y , th e so u rc e o f P r u d e n c e 's s t r a t e g y i s n o t
B o e th iu s , b u t , a s we m ig ht e x p e c t, S eneca, who w ro te an
I
I e x t e n s i v e e s s a y on a n g e r , i t s c a u s e s , e f f e c t s , and c u re .
|
|Though a n a l y t i c a l r a t h e r th a n c o n s o l a t o r y i n form , S e n e c a 's
On Anger i s c e r t a i n l y c o n s o l a t o r y i n i t s i m p l i c a t i o n s ;
S eneca s u g g e s ts t e c h n iq u e s to th o s e who w ish to c u re a n g e r
i n th e m s e lv e s o r i n o t h e r s , and much o f h i s a n a l y s i s r e a d s
l i k e a commentary on th e c h a r a c t e r s i n th e M e lib e e . Sen
e c a w r i t e s :
To f e e l a n g e r on b e h a l f o f lo v e d o nes i s th e mark o f a
weak m ind, n o t o f a l o y a l o ne. F or a man to s ta n d f o r t h
a s th e d e f e n d e r o f p a r e n t s , c h i l d r e n , f r i e n d s , and f e l -
l o w - c i t i z e n s , l e d m e re ly by h i s se n se o f d u ty , a c t i n g
v o l u n t a r i l y , u s in g judgem ent, u s i n g f o r e s i g h t , moved
n e i t h e r by im p u lse n o r by f u r y — t h i s i s n o b le and b e
com ing. Now no p a s s i o n i s more e a g e r f o r rev e n g e th an
a n g e r , and f o r t h a t v e ry r e a s o n i s u n f i t to ta k e i t ;
b e in g u n d u ly a r d e n t and f r e n z i e d , a s m o s t . l u s t s a r e , i t
b lo c k s i t s own p r o g r e s s to th e g o a l tow ard w hich i t
h a s t e n s . T h e re fo re i t h a s n e v e r been o f a d v a n ta g e e i t h e r
i n p e a c e o r i n w ar; f o r i t makes p e a c e seem l i k e w ar, and
amid th e c l a s h o f arms i t f o r g e t s t h a t th e W ar-god shows
:no fa v o u r and, f a i l i n g to c o n t r o l i t s e l f , i t p a s s e s i n t o
th e c o n t r o l o f a n o t h e r . 9
^M oral E s s a y s , tran B , John ¥ . B a so re , I (London,
1 9 2 8 ), 139.
54!
I f i t i s not A lb e rta n o 1b exact source, the passage a t ;
l e a s t in d ic a te s the S to ic opinion on the m a tte r, which
Albertano i s obviously dram atizing no m a tte r where he :
|
found i t . I t should be noted th a t our purpose here i s not |
to i d e n t i f y the them atic sources of the M elibee—fo r ex
ample, where Albertano o b tain ed h is d isc u ssio n of Fortune,
o r the use o f r ic h e s . A lbertano makes t h i s very c l e a r in
the te x t i t s e l f ; h is c h a ra c te rs c i t e the sources by name;
R obinson's notes show e x a c tly where A lbertano, and then ;
| ■
I Raynaud and Chaucer, drew t h e i r m a te r ia ls . What we are
! I
I looking fo r i s a source in the co n so latio t r a d i t i o n th a t
| might f u r th e r ex p lain the form o f the M elibee, th a t i s , j
why the c h a ra c te rs behave as they do, and what p a r t i c u l a r
techniques must be brought in to p la y to cure the d ise ase j
of wrath, as opposed to th a t o f g r i e f — the most freq u en t
su b je c t of co n so lato ry l i t e r a t u r e by f a r . For example, j
Seneca w rite s : j
|
The b e s t c o r re c tiv e o f anger l i e s in delay. Beg t h i s
concession from anger a t the f i r s t , not in order th a t i t
may pardon, but in o rd er t h a t i t may judge. I t s f i r s t
a s s a u lt s are heavy; i t w i l l leave o f f i f . i t w a its . And
do not t r y to d estro y i t a l l a t once; a tta c k e d piecem eal,
i t w ill be com pletely conquered. (Moral Essays, p. 229)
Prudence, to say the l e a s t , dem onstrates t h i s te c h
nique throughout the t a l e . In the f i r s t p la c e she delays |
|
h is anger by asking him to c a l l a c o u n c il. When the coun- j
I
i
c i l chooses war, she begs M elibeus, "My lo rd , I yow bisechej
]
as h e r t e l y as I dar and kan, ne h a s te yow n a t to f a s te j
55 |
. . . i n w ikked h a s t e i s no p r o f i t " ( V I I .1 0 5 2 -1 0 5 4 ). Her
se e m in g ly e n d le s s d i g r e s s i o n s may a ls o be seen p a r t l y a s a
d e la y in g t a c t i c . , and o f t e n when M elibee a sk s f o r d i r e c t
a d v ic e she t u r n s th e q u e s t io n a s i d e . Note th e fo llo w in g
e x c h a n g e :
'And* wyf* by c au se o f th y sw eete wordes* and eek f o r I
have a s s a y e d and p re v e d th y g r e t e s a p ie n c e and th y g r e t e
tr o u th e * I wol g o v e rn e me by th y c o n s e i l i n a l l e t h y n g . ' / ;
'Now, s ir e ., 1 quod dame Prudence* 'an d syn ye vouche
s a u f to been g o v e rn e d by my c o u n s e il* I wol enforme yow
how ye s h u l g overne y o u r s e l f i n chesynge o f y o u re con-
s e i l l o u r s . 1 ( V I I .1114-1115) ;
'
j T h is c o n v e r s a t io n t a k e s p l a c e v e ry e a r l y i n t h e t a l e .
M elib eu s a p p e a rs to be re a d y f o r a n y th in g ; a l l Prudence
h a s to do IS t e l l him to f o r g i v e h i s en em ie s. In ste a d *
she d i g r e s s e s i n t o a d i s c u s s i o n o f c o u n s e l and c o u n s e l o r s . )
T here a re some p o s s i b l e r e a s o n s f o r t h i s . The f i r s t * o f
|
course* i s th e d e la y we have been t a l k i n g a b o u t. Second* \
i t d r a m a tiz e s th e p o i n t t h a t a n g e r i s c u re d by d e g re e s .
M elib eu s i s a t t h i s e a r l y s t a g e n o t re a d y f o r a d i r e c t
s u g g e s t i o n . He d e m o n s tra te s t h i s u n r e a d i n e s s a g a in and j
j
a g a in l a t e r on i n th e t a l e by t u r n i n g th e whole m a t t e r o v e rj
i
to Prudence e v e ry tim e she a s k s f o r i t * and a g re e in g to
p eace and f o r g i v e n e s s , w h ile s t i l l c l i n g i n g t o h i s d e s i r e
f o r v e n g ea n ce . At th e end* he s t i l l p r o p o s e s to s t r i p h i s j
i
enem ies o f a l l o f t h e i r p r o p e r t y and e x i l e them f o r e v e r , j
i
Pruden ce h a s to do some f a s t t a l k i n g to win h i s a s s e n t to i
|
f u l l f o r g i v e n e s s . In s h o rt* th e d ia lo g u e w ould seem to
e x h i b i t S e n e c a 's " p iec em ea l" t a c t i c s . At th e tim e o f th e
" ................ .................... ............................ 5 6 1
[
c o n v e r s a t io n j u s t q u o te d , M elibeus s t i l l t h i n k s t h a t war
i s th e c o n t r a r y o f w ar; t h e r e i s more t h a t he m ust l e a r n
b e f o r e h i s a n g e r can be s u c c e s s f u l l y quenched.
Sometimes th e i n f l u e n c e o f Seneca on th e T ale o f i
M elibee i s o f a more m in o r, b u t s t i l l e n l i g h t e n i n g , s o r t .
F or exam ple, Seneca t a k e s p a i n s to p o i n t o u t t h a t he s e e s
no v i r t u e i n a n g e r a t a l l , w hereas A r i s t o t l e had th o u g h t
i t a u s e f u l p a s s i o n i n c e r t a i n c a s e s , such a s w ar. Seneca
w i l l have n o th iq g o f t h i s ; f o r th e S t o i c , a n g e r must o n ly
be f e ig n e d :
W rath i s t h e r e f o r e n e v e r a d m i s s ib l e ; som etim es we must
f e i g n i t i f we have to a ro u s e th e s l u g g i s h minds o f o u r j
h e a r e r s , j u s t a s we a p p ly go ad s and b ra n d s to a ro u s e !
h o r s e s t h a t a r e slow i n s t a r t i n g upon t h e i r c o u rs e .
Sometimes we must s t r i k e f e a r i n t o th e h e a r t s o f th o s e
w ith whom re a s o n i s o f no a v a i l ; y e t i t i s no more e x - I
p e d i e n t to be a n g ry th a n to be sad o r to be a f r a i d .
(M oral E s s a y s , p . 197) j
i
Dame Prudence i s a t r u e s t o i c i n t h i s r e s p e c t . The |
e m o tio n a l clim ax o f th e d ia lo g u e o c c u r s j u s t a f t e r she j
t e l l s M elibeus f l a t l y t h a t he s h o u ld make p eace w ith h i s j
e n e m ie s. M e lib e u s, o f c o u rs e , b a l k s , and f o r a moment i t j
i
would a p p e a r t h a t a l l o f h e r d i a l e c t i c i s a b o u t to c o l
l a p s e : he i s s t i l l n o t re a d y , n o t r e a s o n a b le enough to
f o llo w h e r a rg u m e n ts. We r e a d : "Thanne b ig a n dame Prudence
to maken se m b la n t o f w r a tt h e " ( V I I . I 6 8 7 ) ; she d i r e c t s h e r j
I
j
a p p e a l to h i s e m o tio n a l s i d e — "For I knowe. w el t h a t ye
been so h a r d h e r t e d t h a t ye wol do no thyng f o r me" (V II.
1 6 9 5) — and she shocks him i n t o a s s e n t . She l a t e r e x p la in s :
57
j
"I make no se m b la n t o f w r a tth e ne anger* b u t f o r y o u r e |
g r e t e p r o f i t " ( V I I .1 7 0 6 ) . The s t o i c c o u n se lo r* i n sh o rt*
m ust n o t be a h y p o c r i t e ; she m ust n o t f a l l v i c t i m to th e ■
v e ry p a s s i o n she i s com batting* so she f e i g n s i t , j
I want to s t r e s s a g a in t h a t t h i s r e l a t i o n betw een th e
T ale o f M elibee and S e n e c a 's On Anger i s fo rm al o n ly i n an
i n d i r e c t s e n s e . S e n e c a 's t r e a t i s e sim p ly s u g g e s ts p r a c - !
t i c e s t h a t a w r i t e r o f a c o n s o l a t i o on w r a th m ight fo llo w ;
and A lb e rta n o > s t r a c t shows some e v id e n c e i n i t s form t h a t ;
|h e i s f o llo w in g S e n e c a 's g u i d e l i n e s . I do not. mean to
!
|im p ly t h a t th e T ale o f M elibee i s a s t o i c c o n s o l a t i o . I t s
j ;
I c o lo rin g * i n p o i n t o f f a c t* i s d e f i n i t e l y C h r i s t i a n ; i t s
i |
form* however* m ust be seen a s c l a s s i c a l . I
! W hile we a re on th e s u b j e c t o f fo rm a l a n a lo g u e s o f
M e lib e e , we s h o u ld n o te two o t h e r s t h a t a r e m en tio n ed j
i n th e t e x t i t s e l f . The f i r s t i s O v id 's Remedy o f L ove. !
When Prud en ce s e e s h e r h u sb and mad w ith g r i e f * she r e - j
members O v id 's s ta te m e n t : "He i s a f o o l t h a t d e s t o u r b e t h j
th e maoder to wepen i n th e d e e th o f h i r e c h ild * t i l she <
j
have w ept h i r f i l l e " ( V I I ,9 7 7 ) . The p o i n t h e re i s t h a t j
th e Remedy o f Love i s a l s o p a r t o f th e c o n s o l a t i o t r a d i - j
i
tio n * though O v id 's aim s a r e d i f f e r e n t from A l b e r t a n o rs o r j
B o e t h i u s '. O v id 's c o n s o l a t i o i s d i r e c t e d to th o s e who lo v e |
to e x c e s s ; he p r o v i d e s a s t e p - b y - s t e p c u re f o r e x c e s s p a s - j
1
s i o n . T hat t h i s i s done w ith a g r e a t d e a l o f humorous j
i r o n y and l i t e r a r y s o p h i s t i c a t i o n i n no way d i s c o u n t s th e j
b a s i c form and i n t e n t i o n . O v id 's work h a s been c a l l e d a
p a lin o d e ,, b u t to my way o f t h in k i n g t h i s i s m e re ly a term
f o r th e k in d o f c o n s o l a t i o d e s ig n e d to c u re e x c e s s iv e se x u
a l p a s s i o n . In e i t h e r c a s e , th e aim i s th e same: to r e
s t o r e m e n ta l and e m o tio n a l b a la n c e i n a n o th e r p e rs o n by
d i s c o v e r i n g th e c au se o f th e d i s t u r b a n c e and a t t a c k i n g i t
w ith r e a s o n . A no ther t e x t , a l s o m en tio n ed i n th e e a r l y
! p a r t o f th e P a le o f M e lib e e — th e p o r t i o n t h a t most c l o s e l y
|
| r e s e m b le s th e s t a n d a r d a p p ro a c h e s to g r i e f — i s th e Book o f
i '
l J o b . Jo b , l i k e M e lib e u s, e x p e r i e n c e s g r e a t p e r s o n a l m is -
j f o r t u n e , and i t ' i s n a t u r a l t h a t t h i s example would o c c u r
i
t
I to Dame P ru d e n ce . But even more i m p o r t a n t , a g a in , i s th e
i
form o f th e book. Job p r e s e n t s th e p ro b lem o f a d j u s t i n g
to m is f o r tu n e i n d ia lo g u e form: Job a rg u in g w ith h i s su p
p o se d f r i e n d s o v e r th e r e l a t i o n s h i p betw een a m an 's c h a r
a c t e r and h i s f a t e . O b v io u sly , Job l i e s o u t s i d e o f th e
c o n s o l a t i o t r a d i t i o n p e r s e — f o r one t h i n g , i t i s Job who
i s th e s u p e r i o r c h a r a c t e r , th e one w ith m o ral b a la n c e ,
t h r o u g h o u t, r a t h e r th a n h i s e x a m in e rs . P h is i s e x a c t l y
t h e o p p o s i t e o f th e s i t u a t i o n i n th e c l a s s i c a l c o n s o l a t i o ,
and i n th e T ale o f M e lib e e . But i t i s c e r t a i n t h a t th e
Book o f Job was e q u a l l y i n f l u e n t i a l , i n a g e n e r a l way, w ith
P l a t o , i n p ro d u c in g th e k in d o f d i a l e c t i c t h a t we f i n d i n
B o e th iu s and i n th e M e lib e e . J o b ' s s t o r y was sym bolic o f
th e v i r t u e o f p a t i e n c e i n th e M iddle Ages; a s P rud en ce says,!
"Remembre yow upon th e p a c i e n t Jo b " (V II.9 9 9 )
i
Some t e n t a t i v e c o n c lu s io n s a r e now p o s s i b l e . The T a le
o f M elibee i s i n form a c o n s o l a t i o a f t e r th e manner o f j
B o e th iu s j and t h i s fo rm a l o u t l i n e i s c l e a r even a f t e r th e |
a d a p t a t i o n s and changes o f Raynaud and C haucer. I f we
c o u ld i d e n t i f y any s i n g l e p a s s i o n a s th e o b j e c t o f t h i s
c o n s o l a t i o , and t h i s c o n s o l a t o r y s tra te g y ., i t would be
w ra th . Pru dence f e i g n s t h i s em otion a t a c r u c i a l p o i n t i n j
th e d i s c u s s i o n j and a s M elibeus h i m s e l f a d m its a t th e same !
tim e : "Ye knowe w el t h a t I am a n g ry and w rooth" (V II.
i
1 6 9 9)• We a l s o know t h a t th e t a l e a s a whole i s n o t an
a l l e g o r y j a lth o u g h t h e r e a r e a l l e g o r i c a l i m p l i c a t i o n s
p r e s e n t th ro u g h o u t a s a r e s u l t o f two r a t h e r I s o l a t e d p a s - [
sa g e s o f u n m is ta k a b le a l l e g o r y i n th e t e x t . The o n ly con- j
|
s i s t e n t a l l e g o r i c a l d im ension i n th e t a l e i s i n th e r e l a
t i o n s h i p betw een Prudence and M e lib e u s. P rudence i s
alw ays p r e s e n t i n a doublfe s e n s e : a s M e lib e u s 1 w ife and a s |
i
a f a c u l t y o f h i s m ind— o r a n y o n e ’s mind f o r t h a t m a t t e r . j
i
We n e ed to sa y one more t h in g a b o u t t h e s e two p a s s a g e s o f j
a l l e g o r y , F i r s t , i t I b a lm o s t c e r t a i n t h a t th e y a r e A l- j
j
b e r t a n o ’s i n v e n t i o n ; no so u rc e h a s been fou nd. Second,
1 o
P e a r l i s a n o th e r m e d ie v a l c o n s o l a t i o w ith a f f i n i t i e s :
to th e T a le o f M e lib e e . L ike J o b , P e a r l i s an a n a lo g u e i n j
t h i s v e ry b ro a d t r a d i t i o n . On th e r e l a t i o n s h i p betw een j
P e a r l and th e C o n s o la tio n o f P h ilo s o p h y , se e John C onley, j
" P e a r l and th e L o st T r a d i t i o n , " JEGP, LIV (1 9 5 5 ), 33 2-347. j
. . . _ - 6 0
t h e i r p r e s e n c e can be e x p la in e d p a r t i a l l y a s a r e s u l t o f
th e n a t u r e o f th e c o n s o l a t i o form i t s e l f . I n th e f i r s t
place,, i t i s u l t i m a t e l y and b a s i c a l l y a c l a s s i c a l . , n o t a j
C h r i s t i a n , form o f m o ral d i s c o u r s e , C h r i s t i a n w r i t e r s j
came t o u se th e form e x t e n s i v e l y , to be s u r e , b u t i t h a s !
q u a l i t i e s w hich a r e n o t e x a c t l y c o m p a tib le w ith th e t r a d i - ;
t i o n a l C h r i s t i a n a p p ro a c h to m o ral p ro b le m s. John T.
M cN eill w r i t e s :
In a l l t h i s p h i l o s o p h i c a l d i r e c t i o n o f s o u l s t h e r e l u r k s i
a r e c o g n i t i o n o f th e f a c t o f s i n w hich r a r e l y comes to I
c l e a r e x p r e s s io n and h a r d l y a t a l l t o p o ig n a n t r e a l i z e - j
i t i o n . . , . The p r e v a i l i n g n o tio n o f what i s wrong w ith
th e s o u l i s b a se d on th e a n a lo g y o f b o d i ly d i s e a s e .
(A H i s t o r y o f th e Cure o f S o u l s , p . 4o)
I f we s u b t r a c t A l b e r t a n o 1s two p a s s a g e s o f a l l e g o r y
from t h e t a l e , th e " f a c t o f s i n " does in d e e d d is a p p e a r i n |
th e r a t i o n a l d i a l e c t i c . I t i s i n t h e s e p a s s a g e s , and o n ly
i n t h e s e , t h a t we f i n d t h a t M elib eu s h a s "doon synne agayn
o u re Lord C r i s t " (¥ 1 1 ,1 4 1 8 ), and t h a t th e b r e a k in g i n t o h i s i
I
house r e p r e s e n t s th e manner i n w hich th e C h r i s t i a n commits !
i
s i n . W ith o u t them t h e r e would sim p ly be no C h r i s t i a n i
j
i
c o l o r i n g i n th e t a l e to sp eak o f , a s i d e from a few r e f - j
j
e r e n c e s to f a i t h i n God, and some q u o tin g from th e Old and j
i
New T e s ta m e n ts . A lb e rta n o a lm o st c e r t a i n l y added t h e s e j
p a s s a g e s to g iv e " c l e a r e x p r e s s io n " and " p o ig n a n t r e a l i z a - j
|
t i o n " to th e f a c t o f M e lib e u s ' s i n . T h at th e g r a f t i n g i s
i
f o r e i g n to th e form , and s t r u c t u r a l l y weak, i s shown by j
|
th o s e c r i t i c s who have a t t a c k e d M elibee a s an a l l e g o r y . i
As we s a id b e f o r e , in the t e x t i t s e l f even M elibeus \
i g n o r e s P r u d e n c e 's a n a l y s i s o f h i s p ro b lem i n C h r i s t i a n
t e r m s . I n th e p a s s a g e , she o f f e r s him a sym bolic etym ology;
o f h i s name— "a man t h a t d ry n k e th hony" ( V T I.l4 lO )— and an I
I
e x p la n a t io n o f th e a t t a c k i n term s o f h iB own " d e e d ly
i
synnes t h a t been e n t r e d i n t o thyn h e r t e " ( V I I . l 4 2 3 ) . j
M elibeus r e p l i e s :
I C e r te s , I se w el t h a t ye e n fo r c e yow m uchel by w ordes
I to overcome me i n sw ich manere t h a t I s h a l n a t venge me
o f myne e n e m y s ,/ shewynge me th e p e r i l s and th e y v e le s |
t h a t myghten f a l l e o f t h i s v e n g e a n c e .1 ( V I I .1427-1428) j
i ;
H is rem ark s a c t u a l l y r e f e r to th e sp e ec h o f Prudence a b o u t j
one h u n d red l i n e s b e f o r e , i n which she t a l k s o f th e p r a c -
| t i c a l draw backs o f v e n g ea n ce , M elibeus shows n o t th e
s l i g h t e s t i n t e r e s t i n th e meaning o f h i s name, o r th e
j s e r i o u s n e s s o f h i s s i n ; he i s even more r e a d y to p e rfo rm
j h i s vengeance a f t e r P r u d e n c e 's speech on s i n th a n he was j
| b e f o r e . H is r o l e i n th e c o n s o l a t i o a llo w s him to be a
f o o l , b u t t h i s seems to be g o in g to o f a r . The c o n s o l a t i o
form a p p e a rs to be d e l i b e r a t e l y i n t e r r u p t e d to make room ;
f o r P r u d e n c e 's e x p l i c i t l y C h r i s t i a n a n a l y s i s , whereupon i t
im m e d ia te ly resu m es. W ith r e g a r d to my argum ent t h a t t h i s
C h r i s t i a n a l l e g o r y i s s e v e r e l y l i m i t e d i n th e t a l e , i t
Should be n o te d t h a t M e lib e u s 1 d a u g h te r Sophie (Wisdom-
S o u l) v a n is h e s a t t h i s p o i n t and i s n o t m en tio n ed a g a i n .
At th e end o f th e t a l e , a f t e r th e t h r e e enem ies a r e f o r - j
J
g iv e n and M e lib e u s 1 w ra th i s c u re d , she i s n o t g iv e n even
P " ‘ ' ‘ ................' ........“ “ .......................................................621
!
to k en m e n tio n . I f th e t a l e were an a l l e g o r y , th e l e a s t we j
e o n Id e x p e c t would be some news t h a t h i s d a u g h te r h a s r e
c o v e re d — how a b o u t a m essen g er ru n n in g i n ? A lb e rta n o was ;
n o t w r i t i n g a l l e g o r y . i
W ith a l l o f t h i s i n mind, i t i s d i s t r e s s i n g to meet
c a s u a l s t a te m e n t s a b o u t t h e form o f th e T ale o f M e lib e e . j
j
T h is one i s by B e rn a rd Huppe: "The T ale o f M elibeus i s an
i i
| a l l e g o r y o f P en ance, and o f th e inw ard meaning o f th e words!
i
j o f th e L o r d ’s P r a y e r : f o r g i v e u s o u r Bins a s we f o r g i v e
;
! th o s e who have s in n e d a g a i n s t u s " (A R e a d in g , p . 2 3 9 ) .
A lle g o ry ? No, Penance? At th e v e ry end o f th e t a l e
j M elib eu s f o r g i v e s hiB e n em ie s. He t e l l s them,
i ;
’F o r d o u t e l e s s , i f we be s o ry and r e p e n t a n t o f th e synnes!
and g i l t e s w hich we han t r e s p a s s e d i n th e s i g h t e o f o u re ■
Lord G o d ,/ he i s so f r e e and so m e r c i a b l e / t h a t he wole
fo ry e v e n u s o u re g i l t e s , / and b ryng en u s to th e b l i s s e
t h a t n e v e re h a th ende. Amen.1 (V I I . 1885-1887) ■
I t would a p p e a r t h a t M elibeus i s p e n i t e n t — a t l e a s t he
u n d e r s t a n d s what Penance m eans—b u t i n t h i s f i n a l n o te any !
j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r s e e in g th e whole d ia lo g u e a s an a l l e g o r i - i
c a l w orking o u t o f c o n t r i t i o n , c o n f e s s io n , and s a t i s f a c - j
t i o n ? At no o t h e r p l a c e i n th e t a l e d oes M elibeus e x p r e s s j
I
c o n t r i t i o n j up to th e v e r y end he i s th e f o o l o f th e con
s o l a t i o , and even a f t e r he t h i n k s he h a s f o r g iv e n h i s
enem ies he s t i l l p r o p o s e s to ta k e away a l l o f t h e i r p r o p - j
I
e r t y and e x i l e them f o r e v e r . Only a l a s t m inu te argum ent |
from P rudence f o r c e s him to f u l l f o r g i v e n e s s . I s t h i s
c o n t r i t i o n ? H is d ia lo g u e w ith h i s w ife i s th e f u r t h e s t
63 |
t h i n g from c o n f e s s io n im a g in a b le ; and a s f o r s a t i s f a c t i o n , j
he h a s l i t t l e o r none to p e rfo rm . The o n ly c h a r a c t e r s who ;
i
show s ig n s o f pen an ce i n th e t a l e a r e M e lib e u s ' t h r e e j
I
en em ie s, s u p p o s e d ly — a c c o rd in g to th e a l l e g o r i c a l v iew — j
th e w o rld , th e f l e s h , and th e D e v il. Penance i s r e f e r r e d I
to i n th e t a l e , b u t i t i s o b v io u s ly n o t th e b a s i s o f th e
d i s c u s s i o n , o r even th e m ajo r them e. M e lib e u s 1 w ra th i s ■
c u re d th ro u g h h i s f i n a l u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e C h r i s t i a n
d o c t r i n e o f f o r g i v e n e s s . We see him a s he l e a r n s to u n d e r- j
s t a n d ; we do n o t see him i n a s t a t e o f fo rm a l p e n a n c e , o r
even o f g r i e f , e v e r . Hupp£ a p p e a rs to be m is ta k in g a p a r t ,
| a mere i m p l i c a t i o n , f o r th e w hole.
i
We n eed now to sa y one f i n a l t h in g a b o u t th e t r a d i t i o n
o f th e c o n s o l a t i o a s i t r e l a t e s to th e T ale o f M elibee
j
! c o n s id e r e d a s a work o f l i t e r a t u r e . M e lib e e, o f c o u rs e ,
j
i s n o t o r i o u s f o r i t s a lm o st com plete la c k o f l i t e r a r y
q u a l i t i e s . A p a r a p h r a s e i s l i k e l y to be more e n jo y a b le , |
a s l i t e r a t u r e , th a n th e t a l e i t s e l f . The t r a d i t i o n , i n j
j
p a r t , e x p l a i n s — b u t o f c o u rs e d oes n o t e x c u s e — t h i s f a i l - j
i n g . T here a r e c o n s o l a t i o n s o f g r e a t l i t e r a r y m e r i t — th e
C o n s o la tio n o f P h ilo s o p h y , P e a r l , Remedy o f L o v e -- b u t th e
form , c o n s id e r e d i n i t s m ost b a s i c s e n s e , i s n o t l i t e r a r y ,
b u t r a t h e r p h i l o s o p h i c a l . I t s aim , i n c l a s s i c a l tim e s ,
was to c u re a v e ry r e a l p e rs o n o f a v e ry r e a l m e n ta l d i s
e a s e , L i t e r a r y q u a l i t i e s were a f r e q u e n t b y -p r o d u c t o f
t h e e f f o r t , b u t i f th e aim o f l i t e r a t u r e p r o p e r i s to tea ch j
64
and d e l i g h t j th e n th e aim o f th e c o n s o l a t i o was to te a c h
and p o s s i b l y to d e l i g h t . We know f o r a f a c t t h a t A l b e r - j
t a n o l s im m ediate p u rp o se was to w r i t e a t r a c t f o r h i s son j
Giovanni., and we may assume t h a t A lb e rta n o f e l t t h a t a j
c o n s o l a t i o on w ra th was a p p r o p r i a t e t o h i s son a t th e t i m e .!
A gain; I do n o t m en tio n t h e s e t h i n g s by way o f e x c u s e . I t j
i s sim p ly im p o r ta n t t h a t we see th e form i n t h i s l i g h t . j
As to what l i t e r a r y q u a l i t i e s th e T a le o f M elibee may be
s a i d to h a v e , W. W. Lawrence h a s p r e t t y w e l l summed i t up: j
!
The c h i e f c h a r a c t e r s have no l i f e o r i n d i v i d u a l i t y ; save
Dame P ru d en ce; who i s a canny s o u l; knowing how to manage!
a husband; l e t t i n g him weep to r e l i e v e h i s f e e l i n g s ;
s o o th in g h i s v a n i t y , and making 1se m b la n t o f w r a t t h e 1
when n e c e s s a r y . ("The T a le o f M e lib e u s ," p . 104)
j But even Dame P rudence w i l l n o t s ta n d com parison w ith ;
i ' !
| t h e g r e a t women o f th e c o n s o l a t i o — Lady P h ilo s o p h y and t h e |
P e a r l- m a id e n . Some tim e ago, Thor Sundby s u g g e s te d a j
r e a s o n f o r t h i s :
i
U n h a p p ily , A lb e rta n o h a s i d e n t i f i e d h e r w ith h i m s e l f to j
su ch a d e g re e , t h a t she n o t o n ly q u o te s a l l s o r t s o f j
a u t h o r s , even A lb e rta n o h i m s e l f , b u t r e a s o n s i n j u r i
d i c a l m a t t e r s l i k e an a c c o m p lish e d la w y e r. . . . In d e e d , j
i f we d id n o t remember h e r a l l e g o r i c a l d i g n i t y , we m ig h t j
be tem p ted to u s e a modern te rm and c a l l h e r a m ost t e r
r i b l e b l u e - s t o c k i n g . (L ib e r C o n s o l a t i o n i s , p . x v i i )
The commonplace t h a t m e d ie v a ls l i k e d t h i s s o r t o f t h in g
does n o t h e lp m a t t e r s much. The p ro b le m i s t h a t th e T a le
o f M elibee k e e p s such good company. I t i s to be found i n
th e C a n te rb u ry T a l e s , a work o f l i t e r a r y q u a l i t y i f t h e r e
e v e r was onej i t i s spoken by C haucer th e p i l g r i m . We m ust
65
now t r y to d i s c o v e r why C haucer i n c l u d e s i t among th e t a l e s ,
what f u n c t i o n i t p e rf o r m s , i f any . H o p e fu lly , o u r exam ina
t i o n o f th e t r a d i t i o n o f th e T a le o f M elibee w i l l f i n a l l y
h e lp to e x p la in t h i s p a ra d o x ,
[
F
f
|
CHAPTER I I I I
THE TALE OE MELIBEE AND i
THE QUESTION OF MASTERY
W e have been try in g to counter some o f the o b je c tio n s
t h a t have been raised, a g a in s t reading the Tale o f Melibee
as a stra ig h tfo rw a rd p iece of moral philosophy. W e have
seen th a t some apparent in c o n s is te n c ie s in i t s theme can
be re so lv e d , once the t r a d i t i o n a l s tr u c tu r e and aims o f the i
c o n so la tio are understood. Taking in to account the i n t e r
n a tio n a l p o p u la rity o f the L iber C o n so latio n is e t C o n s i l i i ,I
the tim e lin e s s of i t s arguments, and the problems o f |
|
abridgment, i t seems much more l i k e l y th a t Chaucer chose j
;
the t a le f o r i t s stre n g th s r a th e r than i t s weaknesses,
even though h is sim ultaneous i n t e r e s t in both asp e cts i s
not y e t beyond doubt.
A major question s t i l l remains before we can move w ith
assurance from a c o n s id e ra tio n o f the t a l e standing alone
to an a n a ly s is of i t s fu n ctio n in the Canterbury s e t t i n g .
I t i s not enough j u s t to say th a t the Tale o f Melibee i s
another c o n so la tio and th a t Dame Prudence i s another Lady
Philosophy, o r a mental f a c u lty . Prudence i s also de
p ic te d as a medieval noblewoman, a woman, and a w ife— a
66
67 |
very ta lk a t iv e w ife, by the way, who manages to g e t her !
husband to do what she wants him to do. This behavior has j
i
seemed ourious and e x c ep tio n al to some c r i t i c s , in view o f j
i
the le g a l, s o c ia l, and th e o lo g ic a l su b o rd in atio n o f women j
in the Middle Ages. That wives should be s u b je c t to t h e i r |
i
husbands i s a medieval commonplace. But here i s Melibeus, j
a powerful lo rd , being led by h is w ife to do something he ’
would r a th e r not do. I s n ' t th e re something fundam entally |
indecorous about the m arriage? C ouldn't canny Prudence
g e t h er husband to do j u s t about anything using the same
t a c t i c s she employs here fo r good purposes? And so the
th in k in g goes. To some the t a l e i s a s u b tle , ir o n ic v a r i- !
I j
| a t i o n —under the guise o f m o ra lity —on "the b a t t l e o f the
i |
se x e s," the attem pt by e i t h e r p a rtn e r to achieve ab so lu te j
dominion in m arriage, which the medieval E nglish c a lle d I
!
i
the quest fo r "m astery." |
I
One p o in t should be c le a r : i f th e re I s anything funda-j
j
m entally unsound in P rudence's behavior, from a le g a l, !
i
s o c ia l, or th e o lo g ic a l p o in t o f view, then much o f what j
was e s ta b lis h e d in the l a s t ch a p ter comes crashing down—
or a t the very l e a s t must be seen as occu rrin g in a hig h ly
i r o n i c —even comic— c o n tex t. C ritic is m i s a t p re se n t
d ivided on t h i s is s u e . On one hand, R. M . Lumiansky s t a t e s
t h a t the Tale of Melibee I s "a s to ry preaching m astery fo r
the w ife" (Of Sondry Eolk, p. 95) J and he was a n tic ip a te d
to some d e g re e by W. W. Law rence, who a f t e r p a r a p h r a s in g I
th e main a c t i o n w ro te : j
t
The p o i n t o f t h i s g r e a t l y a b b r e v i a t e d a n a l y s i s i s c l e a r , j
Give y o u r w ife th e ' m a i s t r y e , 1 and a l l w i l l be w e l l . I t ■
i s o n ly a p a r t o f th e s t o r y and n o t th e most im p o r ta n t I
p a r t , b u t i t i s J u s t th e i s s u e which C haucer c h o o ses f o r |
a d ra m a tic t u r n a f t e r th e t a l e i s done. ( Chaucer and th e
C a n te rb u ry T a l e s , p . 132) s
B e rn a rd Hupp£, how ever, m a in ta in s t h a t th e t a l e
s u g g e s t s how a w ife may i n f l u e n c e h e r husband w ith o u t
o v e r t u r n i n g th e o r d e r o f m a r r ia g e . A w ife may p r o p e r l y
h e lp h e r husband to a l i v e l y p e r c e p t i o n o f what i s t r u e
and J u s t w ith o u t r e b e l l i n g a g a i n s t h i s a u t h o r i t y . (A
R eading o f th e C a n te rb u ry T a l e s , p . 2 3 8)
Hupp6' s c o n c lu s io n i s o b v io u s ly more c o n s i s t e n t w ith
o u r f i n d i n g s th u s f a r , b u t i n some ways i t i s J u s t a s u n -
l
s a t i s f a c t o r y a s th e o t h e r s . They a l l sp eak i n g e n e r a l .
We may w e l l wonder a b o u t th e e x a c t meaning o f such c r u c i a l j
term s a s " m a s te r y ," " th e o r d e r o f m a r r i a g e ," and th e h u s - |
b a n d 's " a u t h o r i t y . " In c o n te x t th e s e c r i t i c s e i t h e r f a i l j
to d e f i n e them o r f a i l to show p r e c i s e l y why th e T ale o f j
M elibee does o r does n o t m easure up u n d e r them . And t h e s e |
j
men a r e n o t e x c e p t i o n s . Nowhere i n Chaucer c r i t i c i s m i s I
I
th e c o n c e p t o f m a s te ry d e s c r i b e d In enough d e t a i l to e n a b le |
one to a p p ly i t to a s p e c i f i c c a se such a s th e M e lib e e .
I t h a s been t r e a t e d a s a commonplace: t h e husband r u l i n g
o v e r th e w ife on th e one hand; o r , when "g iv e n o v e r , " th e
w ife r u l i n g o v e r th e h u sb an d . Such a c ru d e and s i m p l i s t i c j
d e f i n i t i o n n a t u r a l l y l e a d s to d is a g r e e m e n ts such as th e
one abo ve, and h a s l e d to many o t h e r s i n c o n n e c tio n w ith
69 1
j
the Canterbury T a le s . In the absence o f d e fin itio n ., we j
must then supply one h ere. W e must r a i s e —even fo rc e — <
the is s u e , in the hope o f coming to some c o rre c t conclu- i
sions w ith reg ard to m arriage in the Tale o f M elibee. The I
c r i t i c s , a t the very l e a s t , prove th a t something i s being
s a id about i t . The qu estio n i s , does the t a l e "preach"
m astery, or anything th a t resem bles i t ? In t h i s age o f
m a rita l "to g eth ern ess" we may ask why i t should be an im
p o rta n t d is t i n c t i o n In the f i r s t p la c e . What i s the d i f - 1
ference I f the w ife makes a l l the d e c isio n s in m arriage,
e s p e c ia lly i f they tu rn out r ig h t? Our c a su a l, y e t caus- ;
t i c , re fe re n c e s to women who "wear the pants" In modern
m arriage shows a need fo r some t r a d i t i o n a l b earin g s In the
m a tte r.
W e can avoid g e n e r a l i t i e s , and begin, in a sense, j
j
In d u c tiv e ly , by asking t h i s q u estio n : to what e x te n t can j
|
a w if e 's g iv in g —and a husband's ta k in g —of advice be in - j
te r p r e te d to mean th a t the wife has gained m astery over her
husband? There i s , in support o f Lumiansky and Lawrence,
a co n sid erab le body o f medieval comment to the e f f e c t th a t
woman's advice i s always w o rth less and/or an attem pt to
overthrow man's r i g h t f u l a u th o r ity . Consider t h i s example,
i
I
a s c rib e d to Marcus A u re liu s, c o lle c te d from the common- j
p la c e books by Ruth Kelso: J
I
Hardy i s th a t woman th a t dare give co u n saile to a man, j
b u t he I s more hardy t h a t ta k e th i t o f a woman, he I s a j
70
f o o le t h a t t a k e t h i t , and he i s more f o o l i s h t h a t a s k e th
i t , and he i s m ost f o o l i s h t h a t f u l f i l l e t h i t . l
Judged by t h i s p a s s a g e , M elibeus i s a b u ffo o n . But
n o t i c e t h a t t h e r e i s no m ention o f m a s te ry o r m a r r ia g e .
To u n d e r s ta n d how t h i s k in d o f t h in k i n g r e l a t e s to husbands
and w ives we must t u r n to s l i g h t l y more com prehensive and
l e a r n e d s o u r c e s . Oddly enough, C h a u c e r 's own Nun’ s P r i e s t
p r o v i d e s an i d e a l ju m p in g -o f f p l a c e :
Wommennes c o n s e i l s been f u l o f t e c o ld e ;
Wommannes c o n s e i l b r o g h te u s f i r s t to wo,
And made Adam f r o P a ra d y s to go,
T her a s he was f u l m yrie and w el a t e s e ,
But f o r I n o o t to whom i t myght d i s p l e s e ,
I f I c o n s e i l o f wommen w olde blam e,
P a ss e o v e r , f o r I seyde i t i n my game.
Rede a u c t o u r s , where th e y t r e t e o f sw ich m a te e re ,
And what th e y seyn o f wommen ye may h e e r e .
( v i i . 3 2 5 6- 3 2 6 4)
H ere i s a c o n c e p tio n o f th e P a l l o f Man a s a d i r e c t con
sequence o f a woman’ s g i v in g a d v ic e . A woman's a d v ic e
" b ro g h te " o u r f i r s t (and g r e a t e s t ) woe, O r i g i n a l S in , i n t o
th e w o rld . We have s u r e l y a r r i v e d a t th e fo u n d a tio n o f th e
m e d ie v a l p r e j u d i c e a g a i n s t fe m in in e a d v ic e , and f o r t h a t
m a t t e r a g a i n s t womankind i n g e n e r a l — "In p r i n c i p i o , /
M u H er e s t h o m in is c o n f u s i o " ( V I I .3 l 6 3 “3 l 6 4 ) .
I f we "re d e a u c t o u r s , " a s th e Nun’s P r i e s t s u g g e s t s ,
we a ls o f i n d t h a t i t was p o s s i b l e i n th e M iddle Ages to
c o n c e iv e o f th e P a l l a s i n l a r g e m easure th e r e s u l t o f
^ D o c trin e f o r th e Lady o f th e R e n a iss a n c e (U rbana,
19 5 6 ), p . 103.
E v e ’ s a tt e m p t in g to g e t m a s te ry o v e r h e r h u sb a n d . R o b e rt !
i
H a l l e r w r i t e s : j
G od's o r d in a n c e t h a t women s h a l l obey t h e i r h u sb a n d s j
(G e n e s is 3 :1 6 ) i s an i n d i c a t i o n t h a t Eve had s o u g h t power!
o v e r h e r husband i n g iv in g him th e a p p le , and had g a in e d j
t h i s power s in c e he had e a te n i t . The f a c t t h a t Eve
w ish e d to g a in th e s o v e r e i g n t y d id n o t e sc a p e m e d ie v a l [
c o m m e n ta to rs.2
H a l l e r c a l l s o u r a t t e n t i o n to t h i s p a s s a g e from one o f th e ;
F a t h e r s j R u p e rt o f D eu tz. j
S I t d id n o t s u f f i c e h e r (Eve) t h a t she a t e ( th e f r u i t ) ;
j b u t i t sa y s f u r t h e r t h a t she gave to h e r h u s b a n d . Now I
i i n what manner d id she g iv e i t , i f n o t by means o f an
| o u tr a g e o u s command o r womanish i n s o l e n c e . I t i s c e r t a i n i
t h a t she d id n o t p e rs u a d e him to b e l i e v e h e r i n th e same ;
manner i n w hich she h e r s e l f had b e l i e v e d th e s e r p e n t . i
F o r th e A p o s tle s a y s , th e man (Adam) was n o t s e d u c e d ,
b u t r a t h e r th e woman ( I Tim. I I ) . W hatever th e k in d o r I
d e g re e o f t h i s fem ale i n s o l e n c e , i t i s m a n i f e s t e v e r y -
I w here, n o t o n ly i n th e d i v in e w r i t i n g s , b u t i n t h e e x
am ples o f d a i l y l i f e . T h e r e f o r e , i t was by f o r c i n g more i
th a n by se d u c in g , by commanding r a t h e r th a n by c o n tr i v in g !
t h a t she b r o u g h t i t a b o u t, t h a t h e r husband s h o u ld obey
h e r own v o ic e more th a n th e v o ic e o f G od.3
I
R e a d e rs o f P a r a d i s e L o st m ight w e l l sh u d d er to im ag in e
w hat Book IX would have c o n ta in e d had R u p e r t 's v iew s a t -
2 "The W ife o f B ath and th e T hree E s t a t e s , " Annuale
M e d ia e v a le , VI ( 1 9 6 5) . 59.
3 j . P. Migne, e d . , P a t r o l o g i a e e u r s u s c o m p le tu s . . .
S e r i e s l a t i n a , CLXVII ( P a r i s , 1 8 4 4 -1 9 0 3 ), 295- T r a n s l a t e d
by th e a u t h o r . "Nec s a t i s i l l i hoc f u i t quod c o m e d it, sed
i n s u p e r e t v i r o suo d e d i t , Quomodo autem d e d i t , n i s i Jam
a b u siv o v e l im p e rio v e l i m p o r t u n i t a t e m u li e b r i ? Non enim 1
p e r s u a s i t i l l i u t i n eo s i b i c r e d e r e t , i n quo c r e d i d e r a t
i p s a s e r p e n t ! . V i r , namque, i n q u i t A p o s to lu s , non e s t }
s e d u c t u s , se d m u H e r ( I Tim. I I ) . Q u a ils autem v e l q u a n ta 1
s i t m u l i e b r i s i m p o r t u n i t a s , p a s s im non solum d i v i n a , sed j
e tia m humana t e s t a n t u r e x e m p la r ia . Ergo cogendo p o t i u s
quam seducendo , im perando m agis quam a l i q u i d fig e n d o hoc
e f f e c i t , u t o b e d i r e t v i r suae v o c i p l u s quam D e i."
72 |
t a i n e d b o th wide and l o n g - l a s t i n g a c c e p ta n c e , j
The s t o r y o f th e F a l l o f Man, and i t s s u rro u n d in g i
i
commentary, u n d o u b te d ly p r o v id e d th e M iddle Ages w ith th e j
j
m ost s e c u re and p ro fo u n d b a s i s f o r n e g a t iv e a t t i t u d e s
tow ard th e w o rth o f woman, th e v a lu e o f woman's a d v ic e , i
and h e r r o l e i n m a r r ia g e . As I m en tio n ed b e f o r e , i t i s
th e u l t i m a t e s o u r c e , i f n o t o f a n tif e m in is m i t s e l f , a t
l e a s t o f th e m ost t e l l i n g argu m ents on t h a t s i d e ; and i t
s e r v e s i n a way a s p r o o f t h a t a n tif e m in is m was more th a n I
a l i t e r a r y c o n v e n tio n . F o r i f one b e l i e v e s , a s m ost me-
d i e v a l s d id , t h a t th e c o n seq u e n ce s o f th e F a l l were r e a l - - I
and d i s a s t r o u s to man and n a t u r e — th e n one c o u ld o n ly co n- !
e lu d e t h a t th e m ost p a r t o f manr s m is e ry on e a r t h had been !
j
b ro u g h t a b o u t w h o lly , o r i n l a r g e m easu re, by a woman. |
To g iv e a more com prehensive a c c o u n t o f how th e F a l l
c o n tin u e d to form and in fo rm n e g a t i v e a t t i t u d e s tow ard
i
woman a l l th ro u g h th e M iddle Ages, we s h o u ld m ention t h a t
th e m ost a u t h o r i t a t i v e o f th e Church F a t h e r s — men l i k e j
Ambrose, P e t e r Lombard, A quinas and B o n a v e n tu re — a g re e d
4
t h a t Eve had com m itted a g r e a t e r s i n th a n Adam, T h is was
combined w ith a g e n e r a l l y low e s t i m a t e o f th e s t r e n g t h o f
woman1s m ind— a g a in r e v e a l e d by E v e 's b e h a v io r i n th e
i
^ S i s t e r Emma T h ere se H ealy , Woman A ccording to S a i n t
B on av en tu re (New Y ork, 1955) j p p . 2 7 -4 0 . ' The whole book
p r o v i d e s an e x c e l l e n t i n t r o d u c t i o n to th e c o n c e p t o f woman
i n th e M iddle A ges.
73
G a rd e n . F o r e x a m p le * S t . B o n a v e n tu re f e l t t h a t ev en b e f o r e
i
t h e F a l l E v e — o r woman— was n o t e q u a l to man I n s t a b i l i t y
i
o f m ind and c h a r a c t e r (Woman A c c o rd in g to S a i n t B onaven- j
t u r e , p . 33)* And t h e r e w ere a l s o p l e n t y o f e x am p le s w hichi
c o u ld be draw n from t h e S c r i p t u r e s to s u b s t a n t i a t e t h i s
i n s t a b i l i t y , t h i s t h r e a t o f woman, down t h e a g e s - - t h e
s t o r i e s o f Samson., D a v id , and Solomon— and e v en t h i s u n
u s u a l p a s s a g e from E c c l e s i a s t i c u s , w hich seem s t o p l a c e ]
t h e w hole c a u s e o f O r i g i n a l S in i n woman— "From t h e woman
came t h e b e g in n i n g o f s i n , an d by h e r we a l l d i e " (XXV:33)»!
N ot A dam 's s i n , b u t E v e 's . |
S t . P a u l c i t e s E v e 's t r a n s g r e s s i o n a s t h e p r i n c i p a l I
r e a s o n why women w ere n o t p e r m i t t e d t o s p e a k , to t e a c h , j
o r t o h a v e a u t h o r i t y o v e r men i n t h e e a r l y C hurch ( l Tim.
1 1 : 1 1 - 1 5 ) . Now i f t h e s e w ere th e a t t i t u d e s o f t h e l e a r n e d ,
we n e e d o n l y im a g in e t h e i n t e n s i t y an d d i s t o r t i o n t h e y
m ust h a v e r e c e i v e d i n t h e h a n d s o f t h e f o l k . Even among
t h e F a t h e r s , t h e e x t e n s i o n o f t h e sym bolism o f t h e F a l l
i n t o e v e r y d a y l i f e i s so m etim es e x t r a v a g a n t and b i t t e r ,
a s i n t h i s p a s s a g e fro m T e r t u l l i a n :
[ A l l women s h o u ld p l a y ] t h e p a r t o f m ou rn ing an d r e
p e n t a n t Eve i n o r d e r to e x p i a t e more f u l l y by a l l s o r t s
o f p e n i t e n t i a l g a r b t h a t w hich woman d e r i v e s from E v e —
t h e ig n o m in y , I m ean, o f o r i g i n a l s i n and t h e odium o f
b e in g t h e c a u s e o f th e f a l l o f t h e human r a c e . . . . Do j
you n o t b e l i e v e t h a t you a r e [ e a c h ] an Eve?
The s e n t e n c e o f God on t h i s se x o f y o u r s l i v e s on even
i n o u r t im e s and so i t i s n e c e s s a r y t h a t t h e g u i l t s h o u ld
l i v e on , a l s o . You a r e t h e one who o p e n ed t h e d o o r to
t h e D e v i l , you a r e t h e one who f i r s t p l u c k e d t h e f r u i t
o f t h e f o r b i d d e n t r e e , you a r e t h e f i r s t who d e s e r t e d
74
the d iv in e law; you are the one who persuaded him whom I
the Devil was not strong enough to a tta c k . A ll too e a s ily !
you destroyed the image o f God, man. Because o f your j - j
d e s e r t, th a t i s , death, even the Son o f God had to d ie . j
Here the p a r a l l e l i s s tr e tc h e d about as f a r as i t can go, j
I
!
w ith every woman a p o t e n t i a l Eve, and by im p lic a tio n every ;
man or husband a kind o f Adam. When we combine t h i s w ith j
l
what Rupert says about the r e f l e c t i o n o f Eve’s behavior in j
"the examples o f d a ily l i f e , " the f u l l s ig n ific a n c e o f '
woman's m astery o r so v ereig n ty becomes c l e a r , whether in I
i
m arriage or o u t. In each case i t can be seen as a r e p r e
s e n ta tio n of the P a ll o f Man in l i t t l e , and in f a c t a s itu - I
a tio n in which the damage wrought by the P a ll i s prolonged ;
j
and aggravated, j
But t h i s i s s t i l l not a p re c is e d e f in it io n of what |
m astery i s ; we are g e ttin g ahead o f o u rse lv e s. I t would
seem th a t m astery i s s ig n a lle d every time a woman opens
h e r mouth. No wonder Dame Prudence has a rough time w ith
both h er husband and the c r i t i c s . In r e a l i t y , however,
medieval th in k in g on t h i s su b je c t was much more complex
and tw o-sided; I have p re se n te d the n eg ativ e side f i r s t
because i t i s a very im portant p a r t o f the t o t a l back
ground, and probably the b e s t p lace to begin* But i t i s
I
only a p a r t , and i t i s now time to ape the s c h o la s tic s , to
p u t f o r th the o p p o site. The question i s , in view o f the
^"De c u ltu femlnarum" [The Apparel o f Women], D isc ip
lin a r y , Moral and A s c e tic a l Works, tr a n s , Rudolph Arbes-
mann e t a l . , XL (New York, 19 5 9 ), 117.
r o le o f woman in the F a ll, can a wife ever be j u s t i f i e d In j
"advising" her husband? Common sense, o f course, in d ic a te s I
f
th a t th e answer must be yes; and h is to r y shows th a t women
have gone r i g h t ahead w ith t h e i r co u n sellin g in s p it e of
i
the evidence we have j u s t presented* But t h i s i s s t i l l n o t|
to answer the q u e stio n . W e need to know the degrees o f the
i
m atter; we need to know where t a l k ends and m astery begins.
W e have seen how the F a ll was used by the com m entators;
j
to j u s t i f y woman's subordinate r o le in m arriage, Fortunate-f
ly fo r medieval woman, the search fo r an a lo g ie s did not end|
i
i
here; and the most im portant one i s found in S t. P aul—a
te x t th a t can be c a lle d the cornerstone o f a l l C atholic
teaching w ith re g a rd to m arriage: everyone r e f e r s to i t ,
and i t must be quoted in f u l l :
Being su b je c t one to an o th er, in the f e a r o f C h ris t.
Let women be su b je c t to t h e i r husbands, as to the
Lord:
Because the husband i s the head o f the w ife, as C h rist
i s the head o f the church. He i_s the sa v io u r o f h is body,
T herefore as the church i s su b je c t to C h rist: so also
l e t the wives be to t h e i r husbands in a l l th in g s .
Husbands, love your wives, as C h r is t also loved the
church and d e liv e re d h im self up fo r i t :
That he might s a n c tif y i t , cleansing i t by the la v e r
of w ater in the word of l i f e :
That he might p re s e n t i t to h im self, a g lo rio u s church,
not having spot or w rinkle o r any such th in g ; but th a t i t
should be holy and w ithout blem ish.
So also ought men to love t h e i r wives as t h e i r own
b o d ies. He t h a t lo v e th h is w ife lo v eth h im self.
For no man ever h ated h is own f le s h , but n o u rish eth
and c h e ris h e th i t , as also C h rist doth the church:
Because we a re members o f h is body, of h is f le s h and
o f h i s bones.
For t h i s cause s h a ll a man leave h is f a th e r and mother:
and s h a l l cleave to h i s w ife. And they s h a ll be two in
one f le s h .
76
T h is i s a g r e a t s a c r a m e n t: b u t I s p e a k i n C h r i s t and
i n th e c h u r c h . (Eph. V : 2 1 -3 2 Douay v e r s i o n )
At f i r s t g l a n c e t h i s m ig h t seem to be a r e s t a t e m e n t
o f t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s g iv e n t o woman i n E den: w iv e s s h o u ld
be s u b j e c t t o t h e i r h u s b a n d s " i n a l l t h i n g s . " B ut th e
c o n t e x t i m p l i e s much more,, and i n f a c t c o n t a i n s t h e q u a l
i f i c a t i o n t h a t p r o v i d e d a f i r m b a s i s f o r a w i f e ’ s i n d e p e n d - j
e n t a c t i o n a l l t h r o u g h t h e M iddle A ges. T h a t i s , th e
h u s b a n d 1s- r u l e and t h e w i f e ’ s s u b m is s io n m ust be c o n s i s t e n t
w i t h th e t e a c h i n g s o f C h r i s t . The sym bolism o f C h r i s t and
t h e c h u rc h was n o t i n t e r p r e t e d a s m ere i l l u s t r a t i o n j i t i s
a f u n d a m e n ta l — a r e a l — analogy., p a r t o f t h e m y s te r y o f th e
body o f C h r i s t . More i m p o r t a n t f o r o u r p u r p o s e s i s th e
c o n t r a s t i t p r e s e n t s to t h e Eden sy m b o ls. H ere t h e m e ta
p h o r i s r e d e m p t i v e , w h e re a s th e Eden s t o r y i s p u n i t i v e j a t
t i m e s th e p a r a l l e l s w ere drawn ev en more s p e c i f i c a l l y . F o r
ex am p le , S t . B o n a v e n tu re w r i t e s :
I n H is P a s s i o n , th e S a v io u r to o k t h e C hurch a s H is '
S p o u se . I t was fro m t h e open s i d e o f C h r i s t a s He s l e p t
on t h e c r o s s t h e s l e e p o f lo v e and d e a t h , o f d e a t h o u t
o f l o v e , t h a t t h e s a c r a m e n ts cam e, th e s tr e a m s o f b lo o d
and w a t e r b y w h ic h th e C hurch was e s t a b l i s h e d a n d form ed.
(Woman A c c o rd in g to S a i n t B o n a v e n tu r e , p . 107)
J u s t a s Eve was t a k e n fro m th e s i d e o f Adam, so t h e C hurch
came l i t e r a l l y from th e open s i d e o f C h r i s t a s He " s l e p t . "
I n H is m i n i s t r y C h r i s t a lm o s t e v e ry w h e re t r e a t s men and
women w i t h e q u a l lo v e an d r e s p e c t . He i n c l u d e d women among
H is d i s c i p l e s , a n d m e d ie v a l c o m m en ta to rs g e n e r a l l y , c o n
s i d e r e d i t s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t J e s u s a p p e a r e d f i r s t , a f t e r
77
His r e s u r r e c tio n j, to a woman, Mary Magdalen, and through
h er announced h is r e s u r re c tio n to the d i s c i p l e s . The con
t r a s t w ith the F a ll i s o fte n made e x p l i c i t . For example,
S t. Gregory s t a t e s : ’’Since in P aradise a woman d e liv e re d
man to death, so from the tomb a woman b rin g s to men t i d - j
ings o f life';' (Woman According to S ain t Bonaventure, p . j
6 5 ) . U nlike T e r tu ll ia n , S t. Bonaventure tau g h t th a t the j
\
"opprobrium o f women . . , has been taken away by the f a c t |
1
i
th a t from a woman came th e announcement and knowledge o f j
j
l i f e and im m ortality" (S a in t Bonaventure, p. 6 5 ) . j
In s h o rt, the words o f S t. Paul suggest another p o s- !
!
| s ib le r o le fo r women and wives b e sid es th a t o f being second!
! s
i |
! Eves, s u b je c t to men as a punishment fo r t h e i r s in s . The i
! |
| symbolism of C h ris t and the Church suggests d ig n ity and a j
1
l
I r e la tio n s h i p based on love and mutual re s p e c t. The passage
I
| also h e lp s to ex p lain why the medievals were so obsessed
! w ith t h i s qu estio n of m astery. I t i s a simple m atter o f
I
keeping the symbolism i n t a c t , fo r when m astery comes i t i s
turned upside down, and i t i s as i f the Church were to r u le
C h ris t. There were two concepts o f woman in the Middle
Ages, two d ir e c tio n s in which a medieval m arriage could go.
I t would e i t h e r tu rn out to be an im ita tio n o f the F a ll or
a symbol o f the Atonement.
But t h i s i s s t i l l to speak in g e n e r a l i t i e s , as most
o f the F ath ers do. They do not t e l l woman what to do in
s p e c if ic circum stances. To complete our d e f in it io n o f
" ...... 78
m a s te r y an d a p p ly I t to t h e T a le o f M e lib e e we m u st t u r n
t o d a l l y l i f e f o r e x a m p le s . And we may a s w e l l b e g in w i t h j
t h e n e g a t i v e a g a i n , w i t h an exam ple o f m a r r i a g e a s a r e p
r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e F a ll., i n t h e hope t h a t by show ing more
p r e c i s e l y w hat m a s t e r y i s , we may be b e t t e r a b l e t o s e e !
i
w h a t i t i s n o t . As C h a u c e r ’ s P a r s o n s a y s , "F or t h e r a s t h e j
i
womman h a t h t h e m a i s t r i e , sh e m aketh t o muche d e s r a y " (X. ■
9 2 7 ) . We n e e d t o s e e w h at t h i s " d e s r a y " am ounts t o , and ;
t h e b e s t exam ple i s s u p p l i e d by C h a u ce r h i m s e l f , i n th e i
i
W ife o f B a th .
T h a t t h e W ife o f B a th makes a c a r e e r o u t o f t h e p r a c - j
j b i c e o f m a s te r y g o e s w i t h o u t s a y i n g . She i s v e r y f r a n k ;
i |
i
a b o u t i t , and we w i l l n o t c o n c e rn o u r s e l v e s h e r e w i t h t h e
t o t a l i m p l i c a t i o n s o f h e r p r o l o g u e and t a l e . What i n - j
I
t e r e s t s u s h e r e i s th e f a c t t h a t to o few r e a d e r s p a u s e i n
t h e m id s t o f h e r p e rf o r m a n c e t o c o n s i d e r t h e s p e c i f i c a s
p e c t s o f m a s te r y a s she h e r s e l f d e f i n e s i t . The f o l lo w in g
l i n e s add a g r e a t d e a l to o u r s t i l l g e n e r a l , b u t e m e rg in g ,
d e f i n i t i o n . Dame A l i c e i s d e s c r i b i n g how she o v e rm a tc h e d
h e r f i f t h h u s b a n d , Ja n k y n t h e c l e r k :
He y a f me a l t h e b r i d e l i n myn h o n d ,
To h an t h e g o v e rn a n c e o f h o u s and lo n d ,
And o f h i s to n g e , and o f h i s hond a l s o j
And made hym b re n n e h i s book anon r i g h t t h o .
And whan t h a t I h ad d e g e t e n u n t o me.
By m a i s t r i e , a l t h e s o v e r a y n e t e e ,
And t h a t h e Beyde, ’Myn owene tre w e w yf,
Do a s t h e e l u s t t h e te rm e o f a l t h y l y f ;
Keep th y n h o n o u r, an d k e e p e ek myn e s t a a t 1—
A f t e r t h a t day we h ad den n e v e r d e b a a t .
( 1 1 1. 813- 8 2 2)
79
This., to sa y t h e l e a s t , i s c o m p le te m a s t e r y — " a l t h e s o v -
e r a y n e t e e " i n t h e m a r r ia g e i s now h e l d by t h e w i f e . She
r u l e s o v e r h e r h u s b a n d ’ s p r o p e r t y ; she t e l l s him w hat to
sa y ( " t o n g e " ) and do ( " h i s h o n d " ) . The f i r s t t h i n g she
d o e s i s to make Jankyri b u rn h i s book., w h ic h c o n t a i n e d th e
i
s t o r i e s o f w ic k e d women— b e g in n in g s o f c o u r s e , w i t h E ve.
B ut even more i m p o r t a n t i s J a n k y n ’ s p ro m is e t h a t h i s w ife
|
i s f r e e to do w h a te v e r she w a n ts f o r t h e r e s t o f h e r l i f e
( 1 . 8 2 0 ) . The c a s u a l r e a d e r w i l l s u r e l y m is s i t s s i g n i f i - j
c a n c e . "What i t means i s t h a t J a n k y n 's own w i l l — and h i s j
r e a s o n t o o — a r e a b s o l u t e l y s u b j e c t to h e r s . What so u n d s j
l
t
l i k e a m ere g u a r a n t e e o f p e r s o n a l free d o m w i l l t u r n o u t to j
be a l i c e n s e t o r u l e , a s soon a s Dame A l i c e "w a n ts" h e r |
I
h u sb a n d to do s o m e th in g . Do w hat you w i l l , i n o t h e r w o r d s ,j
i s a d a n g e ro u s t h i n g to s a y ; t a k e n l i t e r a l l y , i t ’ s l i k e
s a y in g " I w i l l be y o u r s l a v e . " And t h e r e i s no d o u b t t h a t
t h i s i s p r e c i s e l y t h e way t h e W ife i n t e r p r e t s i t . I n a d
d i t i o n , we f i n d t h a t she i s a llo w e d to k e e p , a l l t h e w h i l e ,
h e r " h o n o u r" — w h ich m eans, a s I i n t e r p r e t i t , t h e r e p u t a
t i o n o f b e in g a t r u e , c h a s t e , and s u b m is s iv e w i f e . T h is i s
w h at t h e m a r r i a g e w i l l lo o k l i k e on th e s u r f a c e , b u t th e
f a c t t h a t Ja n k y n , t h e h u s b a n d , h a s s u r r e n d e r e d a l l o f h i s
t r a d i t i o n a l p r e r o g a t i v e s r e a l l y means t h a t i t i s no m ar
r i a g e a t a l l i n C h r i s t i a n t e r m s . The sym bolism o f C h r i s t
a n d t h e C h u rc h , H is S p o u se , i s b r o k e n , and a l l we h av e l e f t
to com pare t h e m a r r i a g e t o i s t h e P a l l . Where o ne l e a v e s
o f f the o th e r begins. A fte r this,, th e Wife t e l l s us-, they
never argued about an y th in g — "We hadden never d eb a at,"
I t has taken t h i s extreme example o f the Wife o f Bath
to complete our d e f in it io n o f what m astery i s . W e know
th a t when a w if e 's "advice" goes t h i s f a r th a t i t i s wrong,
but t h i s does not pu t us on com pletely safe ground as f a r
as the Tale o f Melibee i s concerned. W e s t i l l need to know
how f a r down t h i s t r a i l a wife could go w ithout tu rn in g
the symbolism o f C h ris tia n m arriage u p sid e down, w ithout
becoming a second Eve. To look a t the problem in t h i s
more p o s it iv e way we w i l l have to b ear in mind what S t.
Paul says about m arriage as a r e p r e s e n ta tio n of C h ris t and j
the Church, because i t was w ithin t h i s o p tim is tic analogy j
I
th a t medieval woman probably made h er most s i g n i f i c a n t j
gains.. I f nothing e l s e , i t tended to lead to d iffe re n c e s
of opinion as to how much a woman could do w ith in h er mar
r ia g e , and such d iffe re n c e s in d ic a te a f le x ib l e and chang
ing r e a l i t y , i f nothing e ls e .
W e w i l l begin w ith the th e o lo g ia n s again, because in
them i s a s l i g h t but im portant disagreem ent aB to the exact
r o le o f woman in m arriage. For Aquinas, the w if e 's d u tie s
are s t r i c t l y lim ite d to c h ild -b e a rin g i
I t was necessary fo r woman to be made, as the S c rip tu re s
say s, as a h elp er to man; n o t, indeed, as a helpmate in
o th e r works, as some say, sin c e man can be more e f f i
c i e n t l y helped by another man in o th e r works, b u t aB a
h e lp e r in the work o f g e n e ra tio n . ( Summa T heol. , I ,
q.92, 1)
81
I n o t h e r w o rd s* woman was n o t made to h e lp man i n any way
e x c e p t i n p r o c r e a t i o n , w hich i m p l i e s t h a t woman sh o u ld
i
| t h e r e f o r e n o t a tte m p t to i n f l u e n c e man i n o t h e r ways. "As
|some say" i s a r e f e r e n c e to th o s e who, l i k e S t . A u g u s tin e ,
|
| h ad d e f in e d th e w i f e ' s r o l e a l i t t l e more b r o a d l y . Augus-
t i n e , f o r exam ple, had d e f i n e d "h elp m ate" more l i b e r a l l y ,
and te n d e d to i d e a l i z e th e m a r r ie d c o u p le a s " J o in e d to
I e a c h o t h e r s id e by s i d e who w alk t o g e t h e r and o b s e rv e to~
!g e t h e r where th e y a r e w a lk in g . . . . a k in d o f f r i e n d l y and
g e n u in e u n i o n . I t I s a s l i g h t d i f f e r e n c e , b u t m e a n in g fu l
I c e r t a i n l y , b e c a u se i t i n d i c a t e s i n a v e ry g e n e r a l way how
a w ife m ight be more i n h e r m a rria g e th a n some k in d o f
b r e e d e r . I t seems to stem from d i f f e r i n g c o n c e p tio n s o f
: th e q u a l i t y o f woman's m ind. For A q u in as, " in man th e
: d i s c r e t i o n o f r e a s o n p re d o m in a te s " ] i n woman I t does n o t]
; th u s th e s u b j e c t i o n o f woman i s a n a t u r a l a s w e l l a s a
! t h e o l o g i c a l n e c e s s i t y ( Summa, I , q .9 2 , l ) . A u g u stin e
I seems to d i f f e r :
i
I So was t h e r e f o r th e man, c o r p o r e a l l y a l s o , made a woman,
who i n th e mind o f h e r r e a s o n a b l e u n d e r s ta n d in g sh o u ld
; have a p a r i t y o f n a t u r e , b u t i n th e sex o f h e r body
j s h o u ld be i n l i k e manner s u b j e c t to th e sex o f h e r h u s
band , a s th e a p p e t i t e o f d oing i s f a i n to c o n c e iv e th e
| s k i l l o f r i g h t - d o i n g , from th e r e a s o n o f th e m ind.
I ( C o n f e s s io n s , X I I I . 47)
i
I F or A u g u s tin e , th e s u b j e c t i o n o f woman i s b a se d on " th e sex
[
i
i
I
j
i ^"De bono c o n j u g l i , " T r e a t i s e s on M a rria g e and O th er
j S u b j e c t s , e d . Roy J . D e f e r r a r i (New Y ork, 1955)* P* "9*
- 8 2 :
o f h e r b o d y , " n o t on some n a t u r a l d e f e c t o f th e m ind, w here I
she h a s a " p a r i t y o f n a t u r e " w ith man.
D isa g re e m e n ts o f t h i s k in d ta k e more s p e c i f i c form i n
th e books o f d o m estic c o n d u ct and p h ilo s o p h y t h a t a p p e a r
th ro u g h o u t Europe d u rin g th e M iddle Ages and th e R e n a is
s a n c e . These books n o t o n ly show how m e d ie v a l m a r r ia g e s
f u n c t i o n e d i n f a c t , b u t i n them we f i n d a tte m p ts to d e f i n e ;
e x a c t l y , and to e x te n d , woman's r o l e i n m a rria g e w ith o u t
d i r e c t l y c h a l le n g i n g h e r t r a d i t i o n a l t h e o l o g i c a l p o s i t i o n
a s s u b j e c t , tho ugh some w r i t e r s do t h i s a s w e l l . F o r tu n a te
l y f o r u s , t h i s l i t e r a t u r e h a s been th o r o u g h ly and e x p e r t l y
t r e a t e d by R uth K elso i n h e r book, D o c tr in e f o r th e Lady o f
th e R e n a i s s a n c e . W ith i t , we can r e t u r n to some q u e s t i o n s
t h a t were r a i s e d i n o u r e a r l i e r d i s c u s s i o n o f C h r i s t i a n
m a r r ia g e . F or exam ple, i s a w i f e ' s a d v is in g o f h e r h u sband I
alw ays to be c o n s id e r e d e v id e n c e o f m a s te r y on h e r p a r t ?
I s a d e s c r i p t i o n o f a w ife t a l k i n g alw ays meant to b r i n g j
to mind M other Eve? A cco rd ing to t h i s d o m estic l i t e r a t u r e ;
i
th e answ er i s no. Ju a n L u is V iv e s w r i t e s : j
L e t a w ife remember t h a t i t i s no shame f o r a woman to
h o ld h e r p e a c e . Y e t o f c o u rs e th e s i l e n t w ife i s n o t to |
be a dumb w i f e . L i f e i s n o t so sim p le f o r h e r a s f o r th e ;
m aid. O c ca sio n s a r i s e when she m ust sp e a k , o u t o f c o u r - j
t e s y to h e r h u s b a n d ’ s g u e s t s , o r d e s i r e to c o u n s e l h e r
h u sb an d . (D o c t r i n e , p . 10l ) I
s
A b a la n c e seems to be s t r u c k h e r e betw een th e P a u lin e i d e a l j
i
and p r a c t i c a l n e c e s s i t y , th e p ro b lem s t h a t a r i s e i n th e
c o u rs e o f d o m e stic l i f e . From h e r wide r e a d i n g , M iss K elso;
........ ” 83
s k e tc h e s a g e n e r a l p i c t u r e o f t h e s e d i f f i c u l t i e s — and th e
o p p o r t u n i t i e s t h e y p r o v id e d f o r w i f e l y i n i t i a t i v e — t h a t
sh o u ld sound f a m i l i a r to e v e ry r e a d e r o f th e T ale o f M e li-
I
i b e e :
I To judge from emphasis., th e m ost p r a c t i c a l p ro b lem o f
| e v e ry d a y l i f e was th e h a n d lin g o f hu sb an d s i n d i f f i c u l t
j s i t u a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g th e b e s to w a l o f c o u n s e l when w if e ly :
wisdom s u f f i c e d . The u s u a l p i c t u r e o f h u sb a n d s, h e r e men;
o f h ig h b i r t h i n t h e i r d o m e stic s e t t i n g , i s n o t a t t r a c -
! t i v e . . . . The more d i f f i c u l t a husband m ig h t p ro v e to
b e , e x h i b i t i n g f a u l t s and even v i c e s t h a t t h r e a t e n to
d e s t r o y m u tu a l h a p p in e s s and s e c u r i t y , th e g r e a t e r would
be h e r o p p o r t u n i t y f o r showing h e r p ru d e n c e . . , , Among :
th e l e s s e r f a u l t s a n g e r was th e m ost f r e q u e n t l y men
t i o n e d , (D o c t r i n e , p . 102)
The p a r a l l e l s a r e o b v io u s . M elib eu s i s h ig h b o rn and ;
! f u l l o f f a u l t s w hich would c e r t a i n l y d e s t r o y th e s e c u r i t y
i o f h i s fa m ily i f th e y went u n c h e c k e d . And t h i s i s t r u e
even th oug h he i s th e i n j u r e d p a r t y i n th e d i s p u t e w ith h is!
i
t h r e e f o e s . A nger, o f c o u r s e , i s h i s c h i e f e m o tio n a l c h a r-:
! a c t e r i s t i c j and j u s t a s i n th e q u o te , "p ru d en c e" i s b ro u g h t
i to b e a r on i t . In t h i s c o n te x t th e c h a rg e o f m a s te ry could:
| n o t be j u s t i f i e d , and i t i s a lm o st e x a c t l y t h a t o f th e
i T a le o f M e lib e e ,
As f a r a s " w if e ly wisdom" i s c o n c e rn e d , we f i n d t h a t
! i
among th e w r i t e r s o f d o m estic c o n d u ct books "p ru d en ce" was j
i
n o t a s c o n t r o v e r s i a l a v i r t u e a s some o f th e o t h e r s . Miss j
! K elso w r i t e s : j
I !
I t c o u ld e a s i l y be a c c e p te d a s a c o n sp ic u o u s and s u i t a b l e !
v i r t u e o f women b e c a u se i t was d i s t i n g u i s h e d from th e !
| g r e a t pow ers o f th e m ind— l o g i c a l , i m a g i n a t i v e , s p e c u l a - ]
| t i v e , i n v e n t i v e , a l l o f w hich need t r a i n i n g by l i b e r a l |
; s t u d i e s — a s n a t u r a l w i t a p p l i e d to p r a c t i c a l a f f a i r s .
L _ (D o c t r i n e , p . 29 ) j
O th er commentators., a c c o rd in g to Miss K e lso , made a d i s
t i n c t i o n betw een th e p ru d en c e o f men and women— men being
; g r a n t e d th e a b i l i t y to " a c t more q u ic k ly " i n an em ergency, j
1 i
| b u t n o t , some b e l i e v e d , a s w i s e l y , b e c a u se "men l a c k th e
I s u b t l e t y t h a t b e lo n g s to woman's c o ld e r , l e s s a c t i v e , b u t
| more p e n e t r a t i n g n a tu r e " (D o c tr in e , p . 2 9 ) .
The o n ly h i t c h i n o u r p r o g r e s s i o n t h u s f a r i s t h a t we
! hav e been c o n s i d e r i n g th e w i f e ' s r i g h t to c o u n s e l h e r h u s -
j
j band i n d o m estic m a t t e r s o n l y . I t i s q u i t e a n o th e r th in g ,
■ by m e d ie v a l s t a n d a r d s , f o r a woman to o f f e r a d v ic e on war
; and p e a c e , o r on th e c a l l i n g and h a n d lin g o f p o l i t i c a l
: c o u n c i l s , w hich Dame Prudence d o e s. Such b e h a v io r , when
s u c c e s s f u l , would be much more open to th e ch arg e o f mas
t e r y . I t i s more th a n s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t on t h i s p o i n t Miss ;
■ K e ls o 's s tu d y d i r e c t l y c r o s s e s o u r own. She w r i t e s :
Kew t h e r e a re who t a l k a b o u t 'w i s e ' w iv e s , and t h e scope :
o f women's wisdom, when i t i s a l l o t t e d to them, i s ob
v i o u s l y n arrow and c e n t e r e d on th e h usb an d i n h i s domes
t i c r o l e , . . , Some h a rd y a d v i s o r s , how ever, h e l d t h a t j
I h usb ands sh o u ld se ek c o u n s e l from w iv es a s p r u d e n t as j
th e y were supposed to m arry , and t h a t th o s e p r u d e n t j
j w ives w ere to f e e l th e m s e lv e s bound to g iv e such c o u n s e l i
a s th e y c o u ld c o n c e iv e . O r d i n a r i l y w is e w ives w ould n o t j
| o f f e r i t w ith o u t b e in g a sk e d , b u t i n t h e c ase o f s e r i o u s j
! need th e y s h o u ld v o l u n t e e r , ta k in g g r e a t c a r e to choose j
■ a f a v o r a b l e tim e , and i n a l l h u m i l i t y v e n tu r i n g t h e i r
| o p i n io n s , l i k e C h a u c e r 's P ru d en ce, an example o f th e j
] wisdom, t a c t , and h u m i l i t y t h a t th e w is e husband sh o u ld
lo ok to f i n d i n h i s w i f e . S e c re c y w ould o f c o u rs e have
J to be a p a r t o f t h i s p ru d e n c e . (D o c t r i n e , p . 1 0 3 ) ;
; The c u r i o u s t h in g a b o u t t h i s p a s s a g e i s t h a t A lb e rta n o i s j
i ]
\ ;
! n o t g iv e n c r e d i t f o r b e in g one o f th e e a r l i e s t o f t h e ;
! "few" who e x te n d e d woman's c a p a c i t i e s i n t o p u b l i c a f f a i r s .
That the "many" might s t i l l f e e l th a t t h i s kind, o f behavior
goes beyond the e s ta b lis h e d bounds o f m arriage i s , o f
course, a p o s s i b i l i t y . But i t seems le s s li k e l y when we
j co n sid er th a t in f a c t such women as the Queens Anne and
iP h ilip p a , and the noblewoman Joan o f Kent were in C haucer's
I own time w idely h a ile d as peacemakers who had a good deal
! 7
I o f leverage w ith t h e i r husbands. I t i s extrem ely d o u b tfu l
; th a t anyone considered th ese women g u i l t y o f the sin of
| m astery in m arriage. They seem to belong, as Miss Kelso
im p lie s , to a t r a d i t i o n of "wise w ives," a group o f excep-
; ti o n a l women who were by d e f in it io n not expected to adhere
r i g i d l y to m a rita l decorum. I t i s time fo r some conclu-
isio n s on m astery in the Tale o f M elibee.
The t a l e ex p resses an "uncommon" view of the w if e 's
r o l e —we might c a l l i t " li b e r a l" o r "advanced" fo r i t s
tim e—but t h i s view i s not "preaching mastery" o r anything
r e a l l y lik e i t , Lumiansky and Lawrence appear to be simply
; wrong on t h i s p o in t, and i t might as w ell be said s t r a i g h t
lo u t. Huppe i s c e r t a i n l y r i g h t , though he o f f e r s no p ro o f,
; Dame Prudence i s a w ife faced w ith a " se rio u s need"—to
|e n su re the peace o f h e r country. She has a husband who i s
j
j m en tally , m orally, and em otionally in cap ab le o f fin d in g the
; r i g h t s o lu tio n to a p a r t i c u l a r problem. In s te a d o f p ro -
j
| ^G ardiner S t i l l w e l l , "The P o l i t i c a l Meaning o f
! C haucer's Tale o f M elibee," Speculum, 19i443~444, October
j 1944. ----------------------------- ------------
8 6
d ucing th e " d e s ra y " t h a t C h a u c e r1b P a rso n sa y s i s th e i n -
| e v i t a h l e r e s u l t o f m astery., Dame P r u d e n c e 1 s a c t i o n s pro d u ce
i . |
ip e a c e and f o r g i v e n e s s betw een e n em ie s. j
But we can be more s p e c i f i c . In o u r d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e '
j :
I i
| W ife o f B ath we l i s t e d some o f th e main c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f
[co m p lete m a s te r y — a b s o l u t e c o n t r o l o f p r o p e r t y ("go vern ance!
o f hous and l o n d " ) ; c o n t r o l o f th e h u s b a n d 's speech
( " t o n g e " ) ; p h y s i c a l i n t i m i d a t i o n (making Jankyn burn h i s
book; k i c k i n g him i n t o th e f i r e ) ; p e r m is s io n to do w h a t e v e r ?
th e w ife w ish e s f o r th e r e s t o f h e r l i f e w ith no l o s s o f
! th e ho n o r and p r i v i l e g e s o f a w if e ; and f i n a l l y , th e com
p l e t e a b sen c e o f any arg um ents betw een husband and w i f e —
" A f te r t h a t day we hadden n e v e r d e b a a t »" T h is l a s t p o i n t
: p r o v i d e s s t r i k i n g e v id e n c e t h a t Dame Pru dence i s n o t i n
th e p o s i t i o n o f m a s te ry i n h e r m arriage., b e c a u se th e w hole !
T a le o f M elibee i t s e l f i s a " d e b a a t." I n o t h e r words., th e :
! a b se n c e o f m a s te ry i n b u i l t i n t o th e v e r y s t r u c t u r e o f th e j
! n a r r a t i v e . The o t h e r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s can be d is c o u n te d
j
: one by o n e. Prud ence c a n n o t be s a i d to g ov ern h e r h u s -
! b a n d 's re a lm , even i n d i r e c t l y . The s i t u a t i o n p r e s e n t e d i n j
I I
; th e t a l e i s a p a r t i c u l a r , n o t a g e n e r a l o n e, and a s we have;
i seen from th e books o f d o m estic c o n d u c t, h e r a c t i o n s w ere 1
| even recommended u n d e r such t r y i n g c ir c u m s ta n c e s . M elibeus;
| i s s t i l l on h i s t h r o n e , so to sp e a k , a t t h e end o f th e t a l e j
| j
I Any p h y s i c a l i n t i m i d a t i o n on h e r p a r t i s o f c o u rs e o u t o f j
| th e q u e s t i o n . I n s h o r t , t h e r e i s no e v id e n c e i n th e t a l e |
o f th e t o t a l s u b j e c t i o n o f th e h u s b a n d 's re a s o n and w i l l
t h a t i s th e h a llm a rk o f m a s te r y . You w i l l r e c a l l from o u r
i
|p a r a p h r a s e t h a t i t i s M elib eus h i m s e l f who c a l l s a t t e n t i o n ;
| t o th e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t h i s w ife m ig h t "seme" to be g e t t i n g ;
j th e m a s te ry o v e r him i n t h i s c a s e , and P r u d e n c e 's answ er
!t h a t he h a s " f r e e choys" w h e th e r to work a f t e r h e r a d v ic e
I :
; o r n o t ( V I I . IO5 9 jIO 8 3 ) . And even M elib eu s i s o n ly c o n - '
c e rn e d t h a t i t m ig h t seem to be soj n o t t h a t i t i s e v e r so
; i n f a c t .
One o t h e r t h in g w hich we d id n o t em phasize i n o u r
p a r a p h r a s e i s th e p o i n t Miss K elso makes a b o u t s e c r e c y .
; S in c e m ost p e o p le c a r r y aro u n d th e common, o n e - s i d e d p r e j
u d ic e a g a i n s t women, i t was n e c e s s a r y f o r th e "w ise w ife "
j
; to be e x tre m e ly c ir c u m s p e c t a s to th e tim e s and p l a c e s o f
; h e r a d v i s i n g . A f t e r a l l , h e r h u s b a n d 's r e p u t a t i o n c o u ld
be damaged. In t h i s c o n n e c tio n n o te t h a t nowhere i n th e
! T a le o f M elibee i s Dame P rudence shown c o u n s e lin g h e r h u s - |
j ^-ii 1 — ■■ ■ ..............
band i n f r o n t o f anyone e l s e . In th e f i n a l sc e n e , when
I th e o l d f o e s a p p e a r i n th e p r e s e n c e o f M elib eus to r e c e i v e :
! t h e i r s e n t e n c e s , t h e r e i s no i n d i c a t i o n i n th e t e x t t h a t
| Prudence i s even t h e r e ( V I I . l 8 7 3 ^ f )• J u s t p r i o r to t h i s ;
! she m eets w ith h e r h u s b a n d 's enem ies i n a "p ry vee p l a c e " ; !
jan d i t i s s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t a t t h i s m ee tin g she say s n o th in g ;
! t h a t would i n d i c a t e to th e s e men t h a t she h a s been a d v is in g ;
i 1
I her husband, or th a t Bhe has any In flu e n ce over h is f i n a l |
I d e c isio n . She merely shows
w i s e l y u n to hem th e g r e t e goodes t h a t comen o f p e e s , /
and th e g r e t e harm es and p e r i l s t h a t been i n w e r r e j / and
seyde to hem i n a g o od ly manere hou t h a t hem o u g h ten have
g r e e t r e p e n t a u n c e / o f t h e i n j u r i e and wrong t h a t th e y
hadden doon to M elibee h i r lord* and u n to h i r e , and to
h i r e d o g h te r . (V I I .1729-1732)
B e fo re we c lo s e t h i s d i s c u s s i o n we need to a s k o u r
q u e s t i o n i n a n o th e r way. T hat i s , does M elibeus e v e r a t - .
tem pt to y i e l d h i s s o v e r e i g n t y to h i s w if e , i n whole o r i n
p a r t ? Lumiansky i s r i g h t on t h i s p o i n t , M elib eu s d o es,
a t l e a s t t h r e e tim e s i n th e t a l e , and in th e most sweeping
te rm s: " ’D am e,1 quod M e lib e e, 'd o o th y o u re w i l and y o u re
l i k y n g e ; / f o r I p u t t e me h o l l y in y o u re d i s p o s i c i o u n and
o r d i n a u n c e '" (V II.1 7 2 5 . See a l s o 1114, 1 8 70 -1 874 ). M e li
beu s c l e a r l y a tt e m p t s to p l a c e h i s re a s o n and w i l l u n d e r
h i s w i f e ' s g o v e rn a n c e , b u t i t does n o t fo llo w t h a t Prudence
a c c e n t s , o r t h a t h e r a c t i o n s a re th o s e o f a w ife who r u l e s
by m a s te r y . M e lib e u s' f i r s t o f f e r - - " I wol go vern e me by
th y c o n s e i l i n a l l e thyng" ( V I I .1 1 1 4 ) — comes v e ry e a r l y i n
th e t a l e , and would seem l i k e an i n v i t a t i o n dim ply to d i c
t a t e to him t h a t he make pe.ace w ith h i s f o e s . I n s t e a d ,
Dame P rudence goes, r i g h t on w ith th e d ia l o g u e , so t h a t h e r
h u sband w i l l see th e r a t i o n a l t r u t h i n w hat she h a s to say
and fo llo w i t o f h i s own f r e e w i l l , n o t h e r s . Time and
a g a i n , we a r e shown t h a t M elib eus does n o t f u l l y U nder
s ta n d h i s own sw eeping r e s i g n a t i o n s o f a u t h o r i t y , and P ru
dence sim p ly i g n o r e s them, o r b e t t e r y e t u s e s them a s o p
p o r t u n i t i e s to c o n tin u e th e c o n v e r s a t i o n . M elib eu s b a l k s ,
r i g h t up to th e end, e v e ry tim e she comes c lo s e to men-
. _ _ . _ _ - - - 8 9 ' |
t l o n i n g h e r a c t u a l p l a n ; t h e r e i s no hope f o r Dame Prudence
u n l e s s she can make him u n d e r s t a n d th e need f o r fo rg iv e n e ss.'
j I f he d o e s n 't he sim p ly w o n 't fo rg iv e., b e c a u se he i s in
j ■
j command o f th e m a r r ia g e . A f t e r a ll., th e S o c r a t i c d ia lo g u e :
i
j a s i t d e v e lo p e d i n th e c o n s o l a t i o i s th e a n t i t h e s i s o f
j r
; m a s te ry : one r e a s o n se e k s to i n c l i n e a n o th e r to i t , b u t
j
i o n ly th ro u g h th e p e r s u a s i v e n e s s o f i t s arg u m e n ts, n o t by
i f o r c e o r any a g reem en t to subm it w ith o u t u n d e r s t a n d i n g .
i
| Lumiansky sim p ly c o n fu s e s an a c t o f g i v in g w ith t h a t o f
. r e c e i v i n g . Dame P rudence doe3 n o t a c c e p t h e r h u s b a n d 's
; a u t h o r i t y to any e x t e n t t h a t would le a v e h e r open to a
: c h a rg e o f m a s te ry .
We can c o n c lu d e by sa y in g t h a t th e m a rria g e o f M e li
b eu s and Dame P rudence i s , f o r a l l o f i t s i m p e r f e c t i o n s ,
a r e f l e c t i o n o f C h r i s t and th e Church r a t h e r th an th e P a l l i
: o f Man. Dame Prudence i s n o t o n ly a sym bolic " la d y o f
p h i lo s o p h y ," she i s a ls o to be numbered among th e "w ise"
: women and w iv es o f th e C h r i s t i a n t r a d i t i o n , some o f whom
she m en tio n s i n h e r own d e fe n s e a g a i n s t M e lib e u s' c h a rg e j
| t h a t t h e r e i s no such t h in g a s a good woman. She a s s o c i - ;
i I
| a t e s h e r s e l f w ith women l i k e R ebecca, J u d i t h , E s t h e r , Mary j
i ;
J j
j M agdalen, and th e V ir g in Mary, who form a k in d o f sym b olic j
| a n t i t h e s i s to th e s o - c a l l e d " d a u g h te rs o f E v e ," such a s j
I D e l i l a h and B a th s h e b a . R e ad e rs o f th e Book o f E s t h e r w i l l j
\ l
I n o t f a i l to n o t i c e an o b l iq u e , a lm o st a r c h e t y p a l re se m - i
j ’
! b la n c e to th e T a le o f M elib ee when Queen E s t h e r b r e a k s th e j
90
p u l e t h a t no one s h o u ld a p p ro a c h t h e King u n l e s s c a l l e d , I n
o r d e r to go b e f o r e him t o p l e a d t h e c a u s e o f h e r p e o p l e .
! I n an e m erg en cy , t h e w ise w if e d i d n o t a t t e m p t to. overcom e
j
h e r s u b o r d i n a t i o n , o r a b o l i s h I t , sh e r a t h e r s o u g h t to
| e x p r e s s h e r s e l f more e f f e c t i v e l y w i t h i n i t , and by exam ple
! an d t a c t f u l r e a s o n i n g b r i n g h e r h u sb a n d t o r e c o g n i z e h e r
| i n s i g h t . I n C h a u c e r 's own tim e t h e r e seem s to h a v e been a
I v e r y w e l l d e v e lo p e d c o n c e p ti o n o f th e w o r th o f t h e w i f e ,
w h ic h c o - e x i s t e d s i d e by s i d e w i t h th e u s u a l a n t i f e m i n i s m .
Serm ons w ere f u l l o f e x am p les o f w ick ed w iv e s , b u t a c c o r d -
| i n g to G. R. Owst, t h e " t y p i c a l m a r r i a g e sermon o f th e day";
: shows a " k i n d l i e r , f a i r e r a t t i t u d e " to w a rd th e w i f e th a n
we m ig h t a t f i r s t s u s p e c t . The exam ple t h a t he q u o te s
s t a t e s t h a t woman i n m a r r i a g e s h o u ld be t h e " e q u a l and
Q
■ f e l l o w u n to m an," an e n l i g h t e n e d p o i n t o f view even i n
: o u r c e n t u r y o f s o c i a l p r o g r e s s .
| i
| I n view o f a l l t h i s , i t becom es i m p o s s i b l e to a c c e p t
I t h o s e c a s u a l s t a t e m e n t s , s c a t t e r e d th r o u g h o u t C h a u ce r j
c r i t i c i s m , to t h e e f f e c t t h a t Dame P r u d e n c e , b e c a u s e she !
; d o e s seem to be so w ise and go od, m ust have so m e th in g up j
I i
j h e r s l e e v e , m ust be d e v io u s u n d e r n e a t h a l l t h a t can d y . j
i j
I G erm aine D e m p ste r, a s th o r o u g h a s t u d e n t a s th e C a n te r b u r y j
T a l e s h a s e v e r h a d , s t i l l a s k s u s to s e e i n " t h e i n f l u e n c e j
| ' j
| Q
j L i t e r a t u r e an d P u l p i t i n M e d ie v a l E n g la n d (New Y o rk ,
| 1 9 6 1 ) , p . 3 8 5 .
o f P ru d e n c e on h e r h u s b a n d , a s t r i k i n g i l l u s t r a t i o n o f some
o f t h e W i f e 's [W ife o f B a t h ' s ] d e a r e s t i d e a s . C e r t a i n
!n o t i o n s o f c r i t i c i s m d i e h a r d , b u t i t i s much more l i k e l y
| t h a t P r u d e n c e 's i n f l u e n c e i s an i l l u s t r a t i o n o f t h i s i d e a
!o f S t . A u g u s t i n e 's :
i
! I n t h e f a m i l y o f t h e J u s t man who l i v e s by f a i t h a n d i s
! y e t a p i l g r i m j o u r n e y i n g on to t h e c e l e s t i a l c i t y , even
j t h o s e who r u l e s e r v e t h o s e whom t h e y seem to command;
! f o r t h e y r u l e n o t fro m a lo v e o f p o w e r, b u t from a se n s e
I o f t h e d u ty t h e y owe to o t h e r s — n o t b e c a u s e t h e y a r e
p ro u d o f a u t h o r i t y , b u t b e c a u s e t h e y lo v e m ercy. ( C i t y
o f God, X IX .14)
! 9"A p e r i o d i n t h e D evelopm ent o f t h e C a n te r b u r y T a le s
! M a rr ia g e Group and o f B lo c k s B2 and C ," PMLA, IX V III
| ( 1 9 5 3 ), 1156.
CHAPTER XV
I
i THE TALE OP MELIBEE, SIR THOPAS
j ■ ' * — i > ■ ■ . ■ .1 ■ ... - , ,
| AND THEIR LINKS
We have seen t h a t th e t a l e I s a lm o st c e r t a i n l y a
I s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d , s e r i o u s t r a n s l a t i o n , i n an a n c i e n t and
r e s p e c t e d t r a d i t i o n — th e c o n s o l a t i o , a l i t e r a r y form d e
s i g n e d to c u re th e d i s e a s e s o f th e s o u l , T here i s n o th in g
i i n th e t e x t p e r se to im p ly t h a t C haucer a s t r a n s l a t o r
m eant u s to ta k e A l b e r t a n o ' s s u b j e c t i n a c a s u a l way,
: Chaucer added no j o k e s , no comic m i s t r a n s l a t i o n s , no p u n s.
| The to n e i s i n t a c t — u n f o r t u n a t e l y , we m ight sa y , f o r modern
^ r e a d e r s . F u rth e rm o re , no one h a s been a b le to p ro v e co n -
, c l u s i v e l y t h a t th e M elib ee c o n t a i n s bad a d v ic e o r f a u l t y
j
p h ilo s o p h y . M e lib e u s' w ife and d a u g h te r — P rudence and
iWisdom—have been i n j u r e d by h i s t h r e e o l d f o e s , th e W orld,
th e F l e s h , and th e D e v il. M elibeus becomes e x tre m e ly a n g ry
i
and v e n g e f u l , b u t a f t e r a long S o c r a t i c d e b a te he i s p e r
su ad ed by h i s w ife to f o r g i v e h i s en em ies, Raymond P re s to n
| and o t h e r s have been a b le to f i n d c o n t r a d i c t i o n s i n t h i s
i scheme o n ly by i n s i s t i n g t h a t th e work be c o n s id e r e d a s an
! a l l e g o r y th r o u g h o u t; b u t f u l l a l l e g o r i c a l u n i t y i s n o t
I c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f th e c o n s o l a t i o i n th e f i r s t p l a c e . From
1 ____________________________________92_________________ _ _____________
93 |
th e p a r a p h r a s e i n C h a p te r I I i t sh o u ld be c l e a r t h a t A lb e r-
t a n o ' s b a s i c them e— th e g r e a t e v i l s o f a n g e r and vengeance
|c o n t r a s t e d w ith th e v i r t u e o f f o r g i v e n e s s — i s p e r f e c t l y
C h r iB tia n .
I n a d d i t i o n , we have seen t h a t th e c h arg e t h a t th e
T a le o f M elibee ’’p r e a c h e s " o r d r a m a ti s e s m a s te ry f o r th e
w ife i n m a rria g e i s w ith o u t f o u n d a tio n . Dame P rudence does:
:n o t r e s o r t to th e p h y s i c a l i n t i m i d a t i o n and ty r a n n y o v e r
i t h e h u s b a n d 's r e a s o n and w i l l t h a t a re th e s ig n s o f m as
t e r y , T h is i s th e o n ly i n t e r p r e t a t i o n c o n s i s t e n t w ith h e r
i o t h e r sym bolic f e a t u r e s — a s a c o u n t e r p a r t o f B o e th i u s ' Lady
: P h ilo s o p h y i n th e t r a d i t i o n o f th e c o n s o l a t i o , and a s p r u -
: d e n ce , a m o ral and i n t e l l e c t u a l v i r t u e d i s t i n c t from th e
h i g h e r pow ers o f th e m ind, b u t n e c e s s a r y to th e mind'B
i p r o p e r f u n c t i o n in g (D o c tr in e , p . 2 9) . Those c r i t i c s who
c o n s i d e r Dame Prudence comic o r d i s r e p u t a b l e a s a w ife a r e :
i :
js im p ly i g n o r i n g — o r a r e unaw are o f —h e r t r a d i t i o n a l b a c k - ;
|g r o u n d . We h a v e, I t h i n k , D u lly j u s t i f i e d h e r b e h a v io r a s j
I a w if e ; b u t i t sh o u ld be n o te d t h a t when a l l h e r a s p e c t s
; a r e w eighed, th e c h arg e o f m a s te ry a g a i n s t a f i g u r e such
i a s P rudence i s a c o n t r a d i c t i o n i n te rm s , and p r a c t i c a l l y
i :
i ;
{ a b s u r d . j
; i
j We move now to o u r f i n a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n : th e T ale o f |
s 1
; M elibee a s a p a r t o f th e C a n te rb u ry T a l e s . So f a r , we have!
I
been sp e ak in g o f th e M elib ee a s a c o n s o l a t i o — I n e f f e c t ,
n o t a s a " t a l e " a t a l l . Now we a re to im agine i t a s spoken;
9 4 1
by one o f th e C anterbury p ilg r im s , surrounded by o th e r
!t a l e s and t e l l e r s . We -will a tte m p t to d e te rm in e what i t
| ;
|means i n c o n t e x t , what i t adds to th e C a n te rb u ry d i s c u s -
|s i o n , how i t a f f e c t s th e r e d d in g o f o t h e r t a l e s , why we
|S h o u ld f i n d i t t h e r e i n th e f i r s t p l a c e . The T ale o f M e li- ;
i b e e , by th e end o f t h i s s e c t i o n , w i l l s ta n d a s som ething
|more th a n a t r a n s l a t i o n o f a F re n ch a b rid g e m e n t o f th e
L ib e r C o n s o l a t i o n i s e t C o n s i l i i . C haucer h as p la c e d i t i n ;
; a d ra m a tic and th e m a tic fram ework; sim p le c o n t r a s t w i l l do
th e r e s t . The v a lu e o f knowing i t s t r a d i t i o n i s t h a t we
;may now have become r e a s o n a b l y s k e p t i c a l o f t h a t c r i t i c i s m
;w hich, i n th e c o n te x t o f th e C a n te rb u ry T a le s , would a t
t e m p t to make i t som ething l e s s th a n i t i s .
We w i l l f i r s t be c o n c e rn e d w ith l i n e s 6 9 1 -1 9 2 3 o f
■ Fragm ent V II (Group B ) o f th e CT, w hich i n c l u d e th e P ro -
; lo g u e to S i r T hopas, S i r -Thopas, th e H o s t ’s i n t e r r u p t i o n
; Sir Thopas and h i s f u r t h e r c o n v e r s a t io n w ith th e p i l -
i g r i m - n a r r a t o r , th e T a le o f M e lib e e , and a good p a r t o f th e |
i P ro lo g u e o f th e Monk’s T a l e . The t a l e s o f th e Shipman and 1
j P r i o r e s s p r e c e d e t h i s s e c t i o n , and th o s e o f th e Monk and
i I
t ;
I Nun’s P r i e s t f o llo w . The most o b v io u s f e a t u r e o f t h i s 1
i
i
j g r o u p in g , g e n e r a l l y s p e a k in g , i s t h a t C haucer h a s chosen
| to p u t th e M elibee i n th e mouth o f h i s own p e r s o n a , some
tim e s c a l l e d C haucer th e p i l g r i m , o r a s i n o u r c a se h e r e , j
I th e p i l g r i m - n a r r a t o r . I t i s a l s o th e o n ly p l a c e i n th e |
! I
! C a n te rb u ry T a le s where a t e l l e r i s i n t e r r u p t e d and th e n j
fo rced to t e l l another t a l e . But before we pass on the ;
s ig n ific a n c e o f th ese and o th e r matters., I t would be b e s t
|to g e t the Bection more f u l l y b efore u s.
; The P rio re s s has j u s t ended h er t a l e o f "a l i t e l
j ;
jclergeon" so devoted to the V irgin th a t by a m iracle he
|goes on singing to h er honor even a f t e r a band o f wicked
! ;
I Jews has cu t h is th ro a t:
Whan seyd was a l t h i s m irac le, every man
As sobre was th a t wonder was to se,
T il th a t oure Hooste japen tho bigan,
And thanne a t e r s t he looked upon me,
And seyde thus: 'What man arto w ?’ quod he;
'Thou lo o k e st as thou w oldest fynde an h a re ,
| For evere upon the ground I se thee s ta r e .
'Approche n ee r, and looke up m urily.
Now war yow, s i r e s , and l a t t h i s man have place!
He in the waast in shape as wel as X;
This were a popet in an arm t rembrace
For any womman, smal and f a i r of face.
He semeth elvyssh by h is contenaunce,
For unto no wight dooth he daliau n ce.
(V II. 6 9 1- 7 0 4 )
:The Host, Harry B a illy , I s the f i r s t o f the p ilg rim s to
!put asid e the sober, r e lig i o u s mood. He i s looking for a
igood joke now, and h i s eye f a l l s on the p ilg r im - n a r r a to r , !
;a f a t l i t t l e man w ith a face th a t i s "elv y ssh "—m ysterious, j
i !
o th e r-w o rld ly . Harry c a n 't q u ite fig u re th is man out, j
iwhich in a wiay i s u n d erstandable; he i s looking, so to |
j \
jspeak, a t h is own c r e a to r , t h i s p ilg rim who Is always j
j t I
!s ta r in g a t the ground and who d o e s n 't seem to have much o f ;
;a sense o f humor or the g i f t o f g a b --" d a lia u n c e ." N a tu ra l-;
i ;
!ly , the Host I n s i s t s th a t he change: "T elle us a t a l e o f i
!m yrthe, and th a t anon" ( V I I .7 0 6 ) . The p ilg rim r e p l i e s th a t ;
t h e o n ly t a l e he knows i s "a rym I l e r n e d longe agoon"
( V I I .7 0 9 ) . T hat w i l l do f o r Harry,, who e x p e c ts some
" d e y n te e " ( s p ic y ) s t o r y from a man so c u r i o u s ,
; The p i l g r i m th e n la u n c h e s h i s S i r T hopas— "A1 o f a
|k n y g h t was f a i r and g e n t / In b a t a i l l e and i n tou rn ey m en t"
! ( V I I . 7 1 5 -7 1 6 )— 206 l i n e s o f v e rs e rom ance. A p p a re n tly t h i s
| i s n o t " d e y n te e " enough f o r H arry j i t i s c e r t a i n t h a t he
I h a t e s th e s t y l e . He b r e a k s i n :
'Namoore o f th is ., f o r Goddes d i g n i t e e , 1
Quod o u re H o o ste , ' f o r thou makes me
So wery o f th y v e r r a y lew ed n esse
T h a t, a ls o w i s l y God my s o u l e b l e s s e ,
Myne e r e s aken o f th y d r a s t y sp e ch e .
Now sw ich a rym th e d e v e l I b i t e c h e l
T h is may w el be rym d o g e r e l , 1 quod h e .
( v i i . 9 1 9- 9 2 5)
: T h is i s th e b e g in n in g o f th e middle., o r c o n n e c tin g l i n k
betw een S i r Thopas and M e lib e e , The p i l g r i m p r o t e s t s t h a t
i t i s th e b e s t v e r s e he knows— b u t to no a v a i l . "Thy
; d r a s t y rymyng i s n a t w o rth a t o o r d l " H arry shouts., i n -
■ s i s t i n g t h a t he t e l l som eth ing e l s e , e i t h e r " in g e e s t "
1
( a l l i t e r a t i o n ) o r i n p r o s e . The p i l g r i m w onders why he
: s h o u ld be th e o n ly t e l l e r s i n g l e d o u t f o r such a s i n t e r -
i
r u p t i o n , b u t H arry i s adam ant— som ething o f "m urthe" o r
| ev en , he seems to co n ce d e, o f " d o c tr y n e " ; b u t n o t t h i s
i
i lo u s y m id d lg g ro u n d . The p i l g r i m f i n a l l y a g re e s to t e l l
"a l i t e l thyng i n p r o s e " (V I I . 937 ) j "a m o ral t a l e v e r -
i
! tu o u s " ( V I I . 9 4 0 ). He c o n c lu d e s , a f t e r a r a t h e r lo ng e x -
| p l a n a t i o n o f th e n a t u r e o f h i s v e r s i o n o f t h i s t a l e , by
97
a s k in g H a rry to " l a t me t e l l e n a l my ta le * I p re y e " (V II.
9 6 6 ) .
|
S The T ale o f M elibee fo llo w s* and o d d ly enough I t t u r n s
\ o u t to be much more t o H a r r y 's l i k i n g :
| Oure H ooste seyde* 'As I am f e i t h f u l man*
And by t h a t p r e c i o u s c o rp u s Madrian*
| I hadde l e v e r e th a n a b a r e l a l e
T hat G-oodelief* my wyf* hadde h e rd t h i s t a l e !
F o r she nys no thyng o f sw ich p a c ie n c e
As was t h i s M elibeus wyf P ru d en ce.
( v i i . 1 8 9 1- 1 8 9 6)
U n lik e Prudence* H a r r y 's w ife e g g s 'h im on when he p u n is h e s
| h i s boys* o r serv an ts-~ -"B re k hem* b o th e bak and e v e ry
ib o o n l" ( 1 9 0 0) . "Wrek th y w yf!" she screams* i f someone
: happens to s l i g h t h e r a t c h u rc h . Wien H arry r e f u s e s * she
; c a l l s him a coward and s u g g e s ts t h a t th e y change p l a c e s —
"I wol have thy k n y f* / And thou Bhalt have my d i s t a f and
go spynne!" ( 1 9 0 6- 1 9 0 7) . "This i s my l i f *" Harry sig h s.
He d a r e s n o t oppose h i s w ife b e c a u se "she i s byg In arm es"
| ( 1 9 2 1)* and he i s a f r a i d t h a t someday she w i l l c au se him
; to k i l l one o f h i s n e ig h b o r s — " f o r I am p e r i l o u s w ith k n y f
i n honde" ( 1 9 1 8) . When t h i s happens* he w i l l have to ru n
; away* a c r i m i n a l f u g i t i v e . "But l a t u s p a s s e awey f r o
i
I t h i s m a te e re " ( 1 9 2 3)* he conclu des* tu r n in g to th e Monk
! and commanding t h a t he "by m yrie o f c h e e re " (1924)* c a l l i n g
j f o r a new t a l e .
But we c a n n o t p a s s away from t h i s m a t t e r so q u i c k l y ,
i
I W ith t h i s b r i e f p a r a p h r a s e b e f o r e us* we need to d e te rm in e
i th e k in d o f im m ediate c o n te x t C haucer h a s p r o v id e d f o r h i s
9 8
T ale o f M e lib e e , "What a re th e r e l a t i o n s h i p s betw een th e
t h r e e l i n k s and th e t a l e s th e y I n tr o d u c e ? Why d id Chaucer
i p u t S i r Thopas i n th e p e rfo rm an c e o f th e p i l g r i m n a r r a to r .,
I have him i n t e r r u p t e d , and th e n p ro c e e d w ith th e M e lib e e ?
I
I What i s th e d ra m a tic c o n t e x t — th e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f th e d i a -
i
; logu e betw een H arry and th e n a r r a t o r ? Not many answ ers
: have been g iv e n . The m ost com prehensiv e and p r o b a b ly th e
I m ost w id e ly a c c e p te d view to d a y i s t h a t o f R. M, Lumiansky,
j
:who s t a t e s t h a t " th e whole p e rfo rm a n c e by th e P i l g r im
C haucer i s aim ed a t e x p o sin g H arry B a i l l y to g e n i a l r i d i
c u le " ( Of Sondry F o lk , p . 8 3 ) . I t i s a jo k e on H a rry — to
show t h a t H a rry i s a p o o r c r i t i c o f l i t e r a t u r e , and to
" jo c k e y th e H o st, a henp ecked h u sband , i n t o a p p ro v in g a
I t a l e i n w hich a h usband p r o f i t s by a c c e p t in g h i s w i f e ’s
a d v ic e " (p. 8 5 ) . W ith r e s p e c t to S i r T hopas, H arry "m isse s
; th e p o i n t c o m p le te ly " (p . 9 0 ) ; he f a i l s to see t h a t i t i s
; a b u r l e s q u e ; he r e a d s i t s t r a i g h t . He m is r e a d s — s h o u ld we
! say " m is h e a r s " ? — th e M elibee e n t i r e l y : "The P i l g r i m C haucer
i : h a s m aneuvered H arry i n t o th e p o s i t i o n o f f i n d i n g a m oral
! a p p l i c a b l e to h i s own m a r i t a l s i t u a t i o n i n a s t o r y p r e a c h -
j in g m a s te ry f o r th e w if e , a s t a t e w hich th e H ost would
j h a r d l y f a v o r" (p. 9 5 ) .
! A c o n f l i c t betw een L um iansky’s c o n c lu s io n s and o u r
' own f i n d i n g s th u s f a r sh o u ld be o b v io u s : th e q u e s t io n o f
! m a s te ry . Alm ost e v e r y th in g i n L um iansky’s v ie w p o in t d e-
i
I p en d s on r e a d i n g th e T a le o f M elibee a s a d e s c r i p t i o n o f
m astery in m arriage. In our l a s t ch ap ter, however, we saw
t h a t i t i s v i r t u a l l y c e r t a in th a t the t a l e does not "preach
|m a ste ry ." With t h i s prop gone, not much o f Lumiansky's
j t h e s i s w i l l stand s c ru tin y . Our opposite conclusion Im-
j
!p l i e s t h a t Harry a c tu a l ly understands the t a l e c o r r e c tly ,
; o r th a t he m isunderstands i t in ways and along lin e s th a t
|
j Lumiansky does not p r e s e n t. At the very l e a s t , our fin d -
!
in g s on m astery suggest the need fo r a reexam ination o f
: the whole dram atic co n tex t o f the Tale o f M elibee; and as
; long as we are co n sid erin g the n a tu re of the H o st's r e -
! sponse we may as w ell begin here and move backward, so to
; speak, through the th re e lin k s to the beginning. Again,
* in view o f our fin d in g s , the qu estio n i s , i s H a rry 's r e -
: sponse now to be seen as t o t a l l y c o rre c t? I s th ere any
; joke, any comedy l e f t ? W e w ill have to take another, and
; c lo s e r , look a t the t e x t .
Harry begins by w holeheartedly approving the t a l e .
| Judged by our fin d in g s so f a r t h i s does n o t seem to be a
i t o t a l l y f o o lis h resp o n se. He wishes th a t h i s w ife, Goode- ;
! i
; l i e f , had heard the t a l e , because she lacks P rudence's
I g r e a t "p acien ce." I f H a rry ’s p ic tu r e of h i s own m arried !
j I
! l i f e i s to be b e lie v e d —and th e re I s no r e a l reason to
I j
! d is b e lie v e I t , in s p it e o f i t s r a t h e r exaggerated to n e — j
I then he has found a f i t t i n g moral, however lim ite d i t mightj
| j
| be. And even I f H a rry 's p o r t r a i t o f h is w ife i s overdrawn,;
she c o u ld s t i l l s ta n d a few l e s s o n s from P ru d e n ce . Here
i s p a r t o f H a r r y 's a c c o u n t:
By Goddes bonesJ whan I b e t e my k n a v e s.
She b r y n g e th me f o r t h th e g r e t e c lo b b e d s t a v e s .
And c r l e t h , 'S le e t h e dogges e v e ric h o o n ,
And b r e k hem, b o th e bak and e v e ry b o o n ! 1
( V I I . 1897-1900)
We a l r e a d y know from th e H o s t 's r e s p o n s e to th e M e rc h a n t1s
T ale t h a t G o o d e lie f b e a r s some re se m b la n c e to "a labbyng
s h r e w e ," w ith "an h e ep o f v i c e s " (I V . 2 4 2 8 -2 4 2 9 )— a g a in
p r o b a b ly an e x a g g e r a t io n ; b u t H arry i s n e v e r p o r t r a y e d a s
a co m p lete l i a r . H is c o a r s e d e s c r i p t i o n o f h i s m a rria g e
i s com ic, to be s u r e ; b u t i n view o f what th e T ale o f
M elibee seems to r e p r e s e n t i t i s n o t a l l s l a p s t i c k and
s t u p i d i t y . I t i s h i g h e r comedy th a n t h a t ; t h e r e i s , i n
s h o r t , a s e r i o u s and even t r a g i c dim en sio n to a l l o f H ar
r y ' s r a n t and h y p e r b o le . C o n sid e re d i n term s o f th e C h r i s
t i a n i d e a l , H a r r y 's m a r ria g e i s a d i s a s t e r . H is d o m estic
p e a c e i s r e a l l y a s t a t e o f w ar, w ith mayhem— and p o s s i b l y
m u rd er— a s th e r e s u l t . H is f i n a l summary o f h i s p ro b lem
c o n ta in s i n c r e a s i n g l y s e r i o u s o v e r to n e s :
T h is i s my l i f , b u t i f t h a t I wol f i g h t e ;
And o u t a t dore anon I moot me d i g h t e ,
Or e l l e s I am b u t l o s t , b u t i f t h a t I
Be l i k a w ild e le o u n , f o o l - h a r d y .
I woot w el she wol do me s l e e som day
Som n e ig h e b o r , and th an n e go my way;
F o r I am p e r i l o u s w ith k n y f i n honde,
A1 be i t t h a t I d a r n a t h i r e w i th s to n d e ,
For she i s byg i n arm es, by m y . f e i t h :
T hat s h a l he fynde t h a t h i r e m ysdooth o r s e i t h , —
B ut l a t u s p a s s e awey f r o t h i s m a te e r e ,
( v i i . 1913-1923)
101
"But l a t us passe awey fro t h i s m ateere"—i t i s d i f f i c u l t
to read t h i s lin e w ith a l i l t ; i t does not sound lik e l i g h t
S comedy. The rhythm i s subdued and sober., r e f l e c t i n g , I
jth in k , H a rry 's d e s ire to avoid f u r t h e r d isc u ssio n o f a
|p a in f u l s i t u a t i o n . There i s a tone o f tr a g ic s e lf-a w a re -
I ness th a t b u ild s from the f i r s t l i n e , "This i s my l i f . "
| H a rry 's w ife appears to in c l i n e him to k ill., r a t h e r than to
' love., h is neighbor. His e x ile may be the r e s u l t . This i s
I c l e a r ly the P a ll o f Man r a t h e r than C h rist and the Church.
: In d ic a tio n s are th a t G oodelief has m astery in the mar-
i r i a g e — "I dar n a t h ir e w ith sto n d e ." She h e r s e l f s ig n a ls
t h i s when she suggests th a t they sw itch r o l e s . I t i s an
u n u su ally se rio u s moment fo r Harry B a i l l y —perhaps h is
: most se rio u s In the Canterbury T a le s . And i t occurs d i
r e c t l y a f t e r the Tale o f M elibee.
The Host tu rn s q u ick ly to the Monk., bu t I t i s In -
| te r e s tin g to see how the s u b je c t o f m astery keeps echoing
| in the r e s t o f the lin k . Attempted evasion only seems to
! make i t more obvious. Per example, Harry p r a i s e s the
! Monk's strength,, good looks, and s t a t u r e ; and he concludes,
j
! "Thou a r t a m a i s t e r whan th ou a r t a t hoom" (1 9 3 8 )— w hich
I shows t h a t th e s u b j e c t i s s t i l l v e r y much on h i s m ind. And
I doubly Iro n ic too, because in the Monk's "home" th e re i s
\
ino w ife i n ' the f i r s t p la c e . But to Harry, t h i s I s e x a c tly
j
I what the Monk needs:
l
j
i
i
102
God yeve me sorw e, b u t , and I were a p o p e,
Hat o o n ly th o u , b u t e v e ry myghty man,
Though he w ere shorn f u l hye upon h i s p an ,
Sholde have a wyf; f o r a l th e w orld I s lo r n !
( V I I . 1950-1953)
H a rry I s a t t r a c t e d to th e Monk's p h y s i c a l s t r e n g t h and
b e a r i n g , and he Im a g in e s — a s many do— t h a t t h i s s t r o n g e r
p e rs o n would be a b le to so lv e m a r i t a l p ro b le m s. I t i s
p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y c o n s i s t e n t f o r H arry to be w ish in g th e
s o u rc e o f h i s p r o b le m - - a w i f e — on th e Monk: t h e r e i s t h a t
to u c h o f a n ta g o n ism f e l t f o r th e p e rs o n who seems more th a n
a b le to cope w ith a p ro b lem , b u t who h a s been e i t h e r sm art
enough to have a v o id e d i t i n th e f i r s t p l a c e , o r who h a s
been k e p t from i t by p u re c i r c u m s t a n c e .
A l l o f t h i s , o f c o u rs e , o c c u rs i n a c o n te x t o f humor;
we sh o u ld n o t f o r g e t i t . But th e " jo k e " i s sim ply n o t
where c r i t i c s have a sk e d u s to f i n d i t . They have assumed
t h a t s i n c e H a rry m is s e s th e p o i n t o f many o f th e o t h e r
t a l e s , he m ust by d e f i n i t i o n m iss th e p o i n t o f th e T a le o f
M e lib e e — and m iss i t c o m p le te ly . But s u r e l y t h i s i s to
c o n fu s e c r i t i c i s m w ith a s y llo g is m ; such an ap p ro a ch f l a t
t e n s and r e s t r i c t s th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f c h a r a c t e r developm ent
w i t h i n th e C a n te rb u ry T a le s , th e v e ry s u b j e c t t h a t many o f
th e same c r i t i c s a re i n t e r e s t e d i n .
We m ight b e t t e r sa y t h a t m ost o f th e H o s t 's re s p o n s e s
to t a l e s a r e in c o m p le te , n o t t o t a l l y wrong; and t h e y a re
l i k e l y to be in c o m p le te i n v a r i o u s ways. Bor exam ple, i t
i s t r u e t h a t i n h i s r e a c t i o n to th e M e r c h a n t's T a le , H arry
blam es th e w ife May and f a l l s to see t h a t J a n u a r y h a s been ■
b l i n d e d I n m a rr ia g e by h i s own l u s t ; b u t a t l e a s t H arry
i
|c a n s e n s e t h a t May h a s th e s o u l o f a tram p and t h a t she
|d e s e r v e s some blam e. The H o s t 's em phasis I s u s u a l l y w hat
| I s wrong, n o t h i s i n s t i n c t ; and h i s r e s p o n s e to th e T a le o f
M elibee p r o v e s t h a t h i s r e a c t i o n s v a ry i n d e g re e . H is com-
f
; p a r i s o n o f G o o d e lie f and P rudence i s good a s f a r a s i t
ig o e s . The i r o n y , and i t i s too s u b t l e to be b r o a d ly c a l l e d
:a jo k e , i s t h a t he i s blam ing h i s w ife f o r som ething t h a t
he s h o u ld have m a s te re d and c o n t r o l l e d i n th e f i r s t p l a c e .
T y p i c a l l y , H a rry f i r s t blam es someone e l s e ; l i k e a t y p i c a l :
h u sb a n d , he blam es h i s w i f e . He c a n n o t f a c e th e f a c t t h a t
h i s w i f e ' s b e l l i c o s i t y i s a r e f l e c t i o n o f h i s own f a i l u r e
to keep th e s o v e r e i g n t y i n h i s m a r r ia g e . He draws a h o r -
■ r i f y i n g p i c t u r e o f l i f e a t h o m e--as i f i t were a l l h i s
j w i f e 's f a u l t . He h a s n o th in g to say a b o u t M e lib e u s, p r o b -
j j
[a b ly b e c a u se f o r a l l o f th e d i f f e r e n c e i n s o c i a l c l a s s , I
I h i s s e l f - p o r t r a i t lo o k s a l l too f a m i l i a r — "For I am p e r i - j
j j
I lo u s w ith k n y f i n honde" ( V I I . 1919)* I t s h o u ld be n o te d j
j t h a t M e lib e u s, f o r a l l o f h i s f a u l t s , h a s a p r o p e r l y o r - j
Id e re d m a r r ia g e , one i n w hich a w ife can f u n c t i o n f o r g o o d . !
H a rry g r a s p s a p a r t i a l p o i n t — t h a t h i s w ife sh o u ld be l i k e j
|Dame P ru d e n c e — b u t he m is s e s th e s u b t l e r o n e — t h a t h i s
I w i f e ' s b ad b e h a v io r i s p o s s i b l y th e r e s u l t o f h i s own f a i l - ;
ju r e to s e t th o s e v e ry r e s t r i c t i o n s on a w i f e , w hich, i n ;
i *
[ C h r i s t i a n te rm s , make Dame P r u d e n c e 's b e h a v io r p o s s i b l e . |
| S in c e th e comedy o f t h i s f i n a l l i n k does have s e r i o u s
I i m p l i c a t i o n s , we s u s p e c t t h a t C haucer m eant t o a cc o m p lish
!more by S i r T hopas, M e lib e e, and t h e i r l i n k s th a n a jo k e
on H arry B a i l l y , which would seem a r a t h e r l i m i t e d r e t u r n
on 1 6 ,0 0 0 words o f t r a n s l a t i o n p l u s th e p a i n s o f s o p h is -
: t i c a t e d p a ro d y . I f we p ay too much a t t e n t i o n to th e jo k e ,
; i t r e s t r i c t s th e p o s s i b l e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f th e s e t a l e s to
; th e C a n te rb u ry p i l g r i m s e x c l u s i v e l y — t h a t i s , th e ta le B do
l i t t l e more th a n r e f l e c t th e r e l a t i o n s h i p s among th e s e
f i c t i o n a l p e r s o n s . A f t e r two t a l e s and t h r e e l i n k s we
: know t h a t C haucer th e p i l g r i m e n jo y s p u l l i n g H a r r y 's l e g .
’ T here i s some t r u t h i n t h i s , i f p r o p e r l y u n d e rs to o d ; b u t
a g a in , i t seems i n s u f f i c i e n t r e t u r n f o r th e e f f o r t .
I n th e l i n k betw een S i r Thopas and th e M elibee t h e r e
! a r e i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t " e lv y s s h " C haucer th e p i l g r i m I s up
i to som ething more com prehensive th a n a jo k e . As you w i l l
| r e c a l l , th e H ost r u d e l y I n t e r r u p t s S i r T hopas, c a l l i n g i t
j
| V d rasty s p e c h e , " and i n s i s t i n g t h a t th e p i l g r i m t r y some-
I t h in g d i f f e r e n t , "in w hich t h e r be som m urthe o r some d o c -
! t r y n e " (V I I . 9 3 5 ). The p i l g r i m i s s u r p r i s e d and d e f e n s iv e
|
| a t f i r s t , b u t f i n a l l y he a g r e e s to t e l l "a l i t e l thyng i n
p r o s e " ( V I I . 9 3 7 ), So f a r , e x c e p t f o r th e a d d i t i o n o f
j H a r r y 's w ra th , t h e l i n k seems a s b r o a d l y comic a s th e one
| .
| t h a t p r e c e d e s S i r T h o p as. " L i t e l th y n g ," f o r exam ple, i s
| p r o b a b ly i r o n i c , In view o f th e p o n d e ro u s and le n g th y
i
! s t r u c t u r e t h a t i s th e M e lib e e; i r o n i c e i t h e r i n th e se n se
o f s l y d e p r e c a t i o n o r n a i v e t l . B ut i t i s e q u a l ly p o s s i b l e
t h a t th e p h r a s e m ig h t be i r o n i c i n th e se n se t h a t what i s
to fo llo w i s a "b ig t h i n g " — o f g r e a t im p o rta n c e o r s e r i o u s -
j n e s s . T h is would be more c o n s i s t e n t w i t h w hat f o llo w s i n
| t h e l i n k i t s e l f , b e c a u se a t t h i s p o i n t t h e p i l g r i m - n a r r a t o r ,-
p r o b a b ly i n an a tte m p t to a v o id a n o th e r I n t e r r u p t i o n , b e -
i
j g i n s a s e r i o u s e x p la n a t i o n and d e fe n s e o f th e t a l e he i s
!g o in g to t e l l , T h is change i n to n e i s so n o t i c e a b l e i n
!some r e s p e c t s t h a t one c r i t i c , B e rn ard H uppi, h a s c o n clu d ed
t h a t a s th e m idd le l i n k p r o g r e s s e s th e v o ic e o f th e p i l g r i m
becomes t h a t o f "C haucer h im s e l f " (A H eading, p . 2 3 4) . The:
; p i l g r i m e x p l a i n s :
I t i s a m o ral t a l e v e r t u o u s ,
i A1 be i t t o l d somtyme i n sond ry wyse
| Of so n d ry f o l k , a s I s h a l yow d e v y se .
As th u s : ye woot t h a t e v e ry B v a u n g e l i s t ,
T h a t t e l l e t h u s th e peyne o f Jh e su C r i s t ,
Ne s e i t h n a t a l l e thyng a s h i s fe la w e d o o th ; j
But n a t h e l e e s h i r s e n te n c e is . a l s o o th ,
And a l l e a c o rd e n a s i n h i r e s e n t e n c e , j
Al be t h e r I n h i r t e l l y n g d i f f e r e n c e .
| F o r somme o f hem seyn m oore, and somme seyn l e s s e , i
| Whan th e y h i s p i t o u s p a s s io u n e x p r e s s e — !
I meene o f Mark, Mathew, Luc, and Jo h n —
; B ut d o u t e l e e s h i r s e n te n c e i s a l oon.
( V I I . 940-952) . '
j
| He d e s c r i b e s th e k in d o f t a l e I t I s , In g e n e r a l , and men
t i o n s th e s e v e r a l form s I t h a s ta k e n i n h i s own tim e . The '■
i
| summary i s c o n s i s t e n t w ith o u r f i n d i n g s i n C h a p te r I I . We :
j I
i know t h a t th e t a l e e x i s t e d In a t l e a s t two m a jo r v e r s i o n s , ]
: |
! and p r o b a b ly o t h e r s i n te rm s o f m a n u s c r ip t v a r i a t i o n s and |
; . |
| o r a l t r a n s m i s s i o n . We a ls o know t h a t i t was p o p u l a r — j
106
" In so n d ry w y s e / Of s o n d ry f o l k . " But th e m ost s t r i k i n g
t h in g a b o u t t h i s p a s s a g e I s th e p i l g r i m ' s s i m i l e : th e
t e l l e r s o f th e T a le o f M e lib e e , l i k e th e E v a n g e li s t s * a l l
j convey th e same b a s i c m e a n in g - - " s e n t e n c e " — even though
i
| t h e i r a c c o u n ts may v a ry i n form . Only th e m ethods o f th e
I a u t h o r s a r e com pared— th e p i l g r i m i s n o t s a y in g t h a t th e
I M elibee i s s c r i p t u r e ; b u t th e mere a s s o c i a t i o n i s enough
l
! to p r o v i d e a c o n te x t o f h ig h s e r i o u s n e s s f o r th e t a l e . I t
! i s a l o f t y com parison w ith o u t a l i n e o f i r o n y i n i t ; i t i s
; a d e fe n s e o f method i n th e same to n e and v e in as th e p i l -
j g r i m 's d i g r e s s i o n tow ard th e end o f th e G e n e ra l P ro lo g u e
|("W hoso s h a l t e l l e a t a l e a f t e r a man . . . " [ I I . 7 3 l f f ] )
i w here th e p o e t ’s own v o ic e i s a l s o s t r o n g l y f e l t . The
; p i l g r i m c o n ti n u e s :
T h erfo re* lo r d y n g e s a lle ., I yow b ise c h e *
| I f t h a t yow th y n k e I v a r i e a s i n my speche*
As thus., th oug h t h a t I t e l l e somwhat moore
I Of p r o v e r b e s th a n ye han h e rd b i f o o r e
| Comprehended i n t h i s l i t e l t r e t y s h eere*
I To e n f o r c e w ith t h 1e f f e c t o f my m ateere*
; And thou gh I n a t th e same w ordes seye
I As ye han h e r d , y e t to yow a l l e I p re y e
B lam eth me n a t ; fo r* a s i n my sen ten ce*
Shul ye nowher fynden d i f f e r e n c e
Ero th e s e n te n c e o f t h i s t r e t y s l y t e
A f t e r th e w hich t h i s murye t a l e I w r i t e ,
I And t h e r f o r e h e r k n e t h w hat t h a t I s h a l seye*
| And l a t me t e l l e n a l my ta le * I p r e y e .
! ( V I I . 953-966)
| T h is p a s s a g e i s a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f th e same i d e a s d i s -
| c u s s e d abo v e. I t i s a d e fe n s e o f th e p i l g r i m ' s p e r s o n a l
I v e r s i o n o f th e t a l e * b a s e d on th e p r e m i s e s — th e s i m i l e —
j
| he h a s l a b o r e d so h a rd to c o n s t r u c t ; i t i s t h e l a s t term
107;
i
I n t h e s y l l o g i s m — " t h e r f o r e , " H is v e r s i o n w i l l c o n t a i n
more p r o v e r b s th a n p e r h a p s th e y h a v e h e a r d b e fo re ., and he
m ig h t n o t a lw a y s u s e th e "same w o rd e s " ; b u t h i s m eaning ;
! w i l l be t h e same, The s e n s e o f a u t h o r i a l i n t r u s i o n i s
I
I even s t r o n g e r here., and i t h a s l e d to some p r o b le m s . F o r
| :
e x a m p le , t h e l i n e , " a f t e r t h e w h ic h t h i s murye t a l e I
w r i t e " p u t s a s i d e d r a m a ti c i l l u s i o n a l t o g e t h e r ; t h e p o e t
f
| h i m s e l f seem s to b e s p e a k i n g . The p a s s a g e a l s o c o n t a i n s
| some p u z z l i n g s t a t e m e n t s , and t h e s y n ta x i s a t t im e s v e ry
h a r d to f o l l o w . C r i t i c s have w o n dered a b o u t th e e x p r e s s i o n
; "somwhat m o o r e / Of p r o v e r b s , " s i n c e th e F re n c h t e x t w hich
j
| C h a u ce r f o llo w e d i s a l r e a d y much s h o r t e r th a n A l b e r t a n o ’ s
! L a t i n . B e r n a r d Huppe h a s made t h e i n t e r e s t i n g — th o u g h
j r a d ic a l* — s u g g e s t i o n t h a t t h e word " t r e t y s " h e r e r e f e r s to *
; t h e C a n te r b u r y T a l e s a s a w h o le , and t h a t "somwhat m o o r e / [
j Of p r o v e r b s " d e s c r i b e s ' t h e n a t u r e o f th e M e lib e e a s a
| w h o le , com pared t o th e o t h e r t a l e s . A c c o rd in g to Huppe,
! C h a u ce r i s s a y i n g , "H ere i s a t a l e t h a t h a s more p r o v e r b s
j !
j i n i t t h a n any o f t h e o t h e r t a l e s you h av e h e a r d so f a r ;
| b u t d o n ’t w o r ry , i t h a s t h e same m eaning a s a l l o f th e
! j
o t h e r s an y w ay ." Hupp6 f i n d s j u s t i f i c a t i o n i n t h i s l i n k j
I
f o r h i s v iew t h a t a l l o f t h e C a n te r b u r y T a l e s h a v e a t t h e i r |
| f o u n d a t i o n one m ean in g : p e n a n c e (A H e a d in g , p p . 2 3 5- 2 3 6 ) . j
; T hese p r o b le m s i n d i c a t e t h e d i f f i c u l t y o f t h e t e x t I
| a t t h i s p o i n t . They i n no way i n v a l i d a t e o u r c o n t e n t i o n
| • I
I t h a t C h a u ce r h a s p l a c e d t h e T a le o f M e lib e e i n a c o n t e x t
o f high se rio u s n e ssj in f a c t , they stre n g th e n the p o s s i
b i l i t y . Hupp6, i t seems to me, goes much too f a r along
th ese l i n e s , but a t leaB t he moves in the r i g h t d ir e c tio n ,
jFor example, " l i t e l t r e t y s , " in c o n te x t, almost c e r t a in ly
|r e f e r s to the Tale o f Melibee and not to the Canterbury
;Tales as a whole. A fte r a l l , the whole passage, beginning
jw ith " i t i s a moral t a l e v e rtu o u s," i s d ir e c te d toward a
d e s c rip tio n and defense o f C haucer's v e r s io n , h is t r a n s l a
t i o n , As a m atter o f f a c t , Chaucer d id add "somwhat moore/
Of proverbes" to the French t e x t , i f we take t h i s to mean
I
;a sm all number; and according to Robinson, toward th e end
o f the t a le "C haucer's te x t i s a much f r e e r p arap h rase o f
the F rench." I want to requote a passage th a t i l l u s t r a t e s
:both th e s y n ta c ti c a l problem and perhaps provides a h in t
|o f a so lu tio n :
Blameth me n a t; fo r, as in my sentence,
Shul ye nowher fynden d iffe re n c e
| Fro the sentence o f t h i s t r e t y s ly te
! A fte r the which t h i s murye t a l e I w rite ,
; ( v i i . 9 6 1- 9 6 4)
The l a s t two lin e s are s y n t a c t i c a l l y g a rb le d , to our e a rs . |
! The ru n -o v er, I b e lie v e , should be p arap h rased as follow s: j
i 1
"This t r e t y s ly te " (the M elibee) which I w rite a f t e r t h i s
merry t a l e ( S ir Thopas) , Now i f "trety B ly te " r e f e r s to
the Tale o f M elibee, i t i s almost c e r t a in t h a t " l i t e l j
!
i v
!
| ^Works, p , 740 n, 955- For C haucer's a d d itio n s , see j
! R obinson's n o tes to l in e s 96J, 9 9 1» 1054, 1225, 1292, 1325,1
I 1395, 1 5 8 3, 1644, 1 7 0 1, and 1884-1888, j
i 1
t r e t y s " d oes t o o , As I m en tioned b e f o r e , i t seem s to me j
t h a t Huppe d e l i b e r a t e l y t a k e s a d v a n ta g e o f t h i s c o n fu s in g
i
sy n ta x i n o r d e r to s u p p o r t h i s g e n e r a l view t h a t a l l o f !
i :
th e C a n te rb u ry T a le s a r e b a s i c a l l y a b o u t p e n a n c e . T his
s t r i k e s me a s an e x tre m e ly o n e -d im e n s io n a l view o f th e 1
j t a l e s a s' a w hole, and I t h i n k t h a t i t l e a d s him to p ro p o se !
i c o m p lic a te d s o l u t i o n s to d i f f i c u l t p a s s a g e s when s im p le r
; ones a r e o f f e r e d by th e o v e r a l l c o n te x t i t s e l f , a s h e r e .
! For one t h i n g , i n th e c h a p t e r on t r a d i t i o n s i t became
c l e a r t h a t n e i t h e r fo rm a l o r in f o r m a l penance h a s much o f
i ' i
San ythin g to do w ith th e c e n t r a l a c t i o n s o r them es o f th e
j *
; T ale o f M e lib e e . The " s e n te n c e " o f th e t a l e i s r e a l l y
som ething l i k e " f o r g i v e n e s s . " We do n o t see M elibeus
| l e a r n i n g to r e p e n t ; we see him l e a r n i n g to f o r g i v e .
But t h i s d i g r e s s i o n h a s gone f a r enough. Of one th in g ;
i ■ i
; we n eed have no d o u b t: by th e l a s t two l i n e s o f th e m iddle j
i l i n k th e p i l g r i m - n a r r a t o r i s sp e a k in g i n g r e a t e a r n e s t — I
i i
I"And t h e r f o r e h e r k n e th what t h a t I s h a l s e y e , / And l a t me i
i t e l l e n a l my t a l e , I p re y e " ( V I I . 9 6 5- 9 6 6 ) . These l i n e s
t
a l s o r e f l e c t a g a in th e p i l g r i m ’ s d is a p p o in tm e n t a t n o t j
I h a v in g been p e r m i t t e d to f i n i s h S i r T h o p as. The d ra m a tic j
p sy c h o lo g y o f t h i s s i t u a t i o n n e e d s to be b ro u g h t fo rw a rd
now, b e c a u se i t s u g g e s ts t h a t th e M elibee and S i r Thopas I
• 1
; may be more d i r e c t l y — and s e r i o u s l y — r e l a t e d th a n h a s been j
j
j su p p o se d . To do t h i s we n e e d to r e t u r n to th e b e g in n in g
o f th e m id d le l i n k f o r a moment. The p i l g r i m h a s j u s t !
been s q u e lc h e d by H a rry B a i l l y ; and th e q u e s t i o n I s , w hat ;
does an " e lv y s s h " p i l g r i m do when he i s c u t off., when he
m ust choose a n o th e r t a l e to t e l l ? T ru e, he m ig h t avenge I
j h im s e l f by s u b j e c t i n g h i s l i s t e n e r s to a d u l l m oral t r a c t j
i ;
j
I he m ight p l a y a l i t t l e jo k e on th e man who h a s i n t e r r u p t e d ;
I him; o r he m ight sim p ly choose a n o th e r t a l e a t random. But;
i • ;
|t h e r e i s a n o th e r p o s s i b i l i t y —w h o lly c o n s i s t e n t w ith th e
!p sy c h o lo g y o f t h i s s i t u a t i o n — t h a t h a s been l a r g e l y o v e r
lo o k e d . S in c e th e p i l g r i m ' s f i r s t e f f o r t h as been r u d e l y
: s q u e lc h e d , he m ig h t— j u s t m ig h t— t e l l a t a l e w hich h a s th e
! same " s e n te n c e " a s S i r T h o p as, b u t which h a s a v e ry d i f -
i
\ f e r e n t form , i n o r d e r to c irc u m v e n t H a r r y 's w r a th . P e rh a p s
: t h i s i s why t h e r e i s so much t a l k i n th e m iddle l i n k a b o u t ;
| t a l e s w ith d i f f e r e n t form s b u t th e same " s e n t e n c e ." The
I comic i r o n y o f th e p i l g r i m ' s whole p e rfo rm an c e m ight w e l l
; be t h a t he g e t s H a rry to app ro v e i n one form w hat he h a s ;
r e j e c t e d i n a n o t h e r . I n th e lang uage o f th e m id dle l i n k ,
I th e p i l g r i m - n a r r a t o r m igh t su p p ly i n th e form o f "d o c try n e " ;
i \
I w hat th e H ost h a s r e j e c t e d i n th e form o f "m urthe" (V I I.
; I
I 9 3 5 ). I f t h i s i s so , th e n th e p i l g r i m ' s p e rfo rm a n c e i n j
I !
I t h i s s e c t i o n i s even more o f a p i e c e th a n c r i t i c s have sup-j
: j
p o s e d . The d ra m a tic u n i t y o f th e exchange betw een th e Hostj
I and th e p i l g r i m h a s been assum ed f o r some tim e , b u t S i r j
! Thopas and th e M elibee have seemed u n r e l a t e d — e x c e p t i n j
! th e se n se t h a t t h e y m ig h t i l l u s t r a t e th e two w o rs t v i c e s !
o f m e d ie v a l l i t e r a t u r e , th e p o p u la r v e r s e romance and. th e
t e d i o u s m o ral t r e a t i s e . There i s r e a s o n now to s u s p e c t a
more fu n d a m e n ta l r e l a t i o n s h i p ,
| T here i s d is a g r e e m e n t o v e r th e s p e c i f i c o b j e c t o f th e \
| s a t i r e i n S i r T hopas, b u t i t s g e n e r a l i n t e n t i s c l e a r . As ;
R obinson p u t s i t * S i r Thopas "h as long been r e c o g n iz e d a s
j a b u r l e s q u e o f th e m e t r i c a l rom ance" (Works., p . 7 3 6 ). On
I t h i s g e n e r a l l e v e l i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t h a t two o f th e m ost
common and b a s i c them es o f th e E n g li s h rom ances a r e ( l ) th e
| g l o r i f i c a t i o n o f w a r f a r e , and (2) th e i d e a l i z a t i o n o f p a s
s i v e j, i n f e r i o r womanhood. These a re i n d i r e c t c o n t r a s t to
! th e two m ajor them es o f th e T a le o f M e lib e e : ( l ) th e d a n -
; g e r s o f war and th e b e n e f i t s o f p e ac e and f o r g i v e n e s s ; and ■
: (2) woman a s an a c t i v e companion and an i n t e l l i g e n t coun-
; s e l l o r . M a rg a re t A, G i s t h a s summarized th e p o s i t i o n o f
: th e rom ances: j
I n s p i t e o f t h e i r acknowledgm ent o f th e need f o r ;
p e a c e , th e rom ances have f o r a p rim a ry p u rp o se th e g l o r - ;
i f i c a t i o n o f f i g h t i n g and w a r f a r e . Though th e a u t h o r s j
o f th e t a l e s r e c o g n iz e t h a t war f r e q u e n t l y had no l e g i t i - j
I m ate c a u s e , tho ugh th e y p o i n t o u t th e agony o f com batantsj
and n o n c o m b a ta n ts, th e b lo o d s h e d , th e b r u t a l i t y , th e d e - !
s t r u c t i o n , n e v e r t h e l e s s th e y e x t o l th e h e r o i c v i r t u e s ;
; r e q u i r e d o f th e w a r r i o r and p r o c la im war aB th e means o f j
| a c h ie v in g n o b le e n d s .2
;
I Dame P r u d e n c e 's "p rim a ry p u rp o s e " i s to d is c o u r a g e w a r f a r e ,
|
I to s e e i t a s t h e l a s t — and w o r s t — r e s o r t : "Ther i s g r e t j
i i
! p e r i l i n w e rre ; t h e r f o r e s h o ld e a man f l e e and esch u e j
1 gLove and War i n t h e M iddle E n g li s h ^Romances ( P h i l a -
| d e l p h i a , 1 9 4 7 ), p . 19^.
w e rre , i n a s m uchel a s a man may g o o d ly " ( V I I , l 6 6 9 ) . On
th e s u b j e c t o f woman th e c o n t r a s t i s e q u a l l y s t r i k i n g .
!Again M iss G is t:
! The i d e a o f woman's i n f e r i o r i t y i s l i k e w i s e b a s i c i n th e ;
j rom ances. I t i s e x e m p lif ie d by th e many m a r r ia g e s o f
c o n v e n ie n c e i n w hich th e woman was th e pawn,, by th e f a c t
! t h a t she s u b m itte d to p h y s i c a l b r u t a l i t i e s w ith l i t t l e
| se n se o f shame o r d e g r a d a t i o n , and by th e somewhat n e g a - ;
! t i v e p a t t e r n o f v i r t u e s w hich she was t a u g h t . Even th e
f i n e s t o f th e s e v i r tu e s ., wisdom., was n o t in te n d e d to e x
p r e s s i t s e l f i n any a g g r e s s iv e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n l i f e o r
to f i t h e r f o r making d e c i s i o n s and d i r e c t i n g h e r own
a c t i v i t i e s . M edieval man assum ed r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . , h o w e v e r;
p a i n f u l l y and i n a d e q u a t e l y , f o r h e r p ro b le m s . (p . 192)
T hat th e M elibee c o n t r a d i c t s t h i s view s h o u ld be o b v io u s .
M elibeus would have s o lv e d h i s p ro b lem " p a i n f u l l y and i n
a d e q u a te ly " i f i t had n o t been f o r th e " a g g r e s s iv e p a r -
; t i c i p a t i o n " o f h i s w if e .
T h is g e n e r a l c o n t r a s t e x te n d s to th e l e v e l o f form a s
i w e l l . We have seen t h a t th e c o n s o l a t i o h a s f o r i t s p rim a ry
; f
; p u rp o s e th e c u rin g o f e x c e s s i v e p a s s i o n th ro u g h r a t i o n a l :
| d i a l e c t i c . The rom ance, on th e c o n t r a r y , i s d e s ig n e d to
d ra m a tiz e e x c e s s i v e p a s s i o n and to a ro u s e th e p a s s i o n s o f i
; th e r e a d e r th ro u g h non— o r o n ly sem i— r a t i o n a l n a r r a t i o n .
I The a n ta g o n is m c o u ld h a r d l y be more b a s i c : th e c o n s o l a t i o
i s d e s ig n e d to c u re w hat th e romance a s p i r e s to c r e a t e ; ;
th e c o n s o l a t i o i s c o n te m p la tiv e , th e rom ance f u l l o f a c - I
j t i o n . In o u r s p e c i f i c c a se th e c o n t r a s t i s even more I
i :
! p ro n o u n ce d , s in c e S i r .Thopas i s n o t a romance p r o p e r , b u t i
i j
| a b u r l e s q u e , o r p a ro d y , w i t h th e romance c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s j
; j
i |
e x a g g e r a te d i n t o i n a n i t y . S in c e S i r Thopas does two ;
113 j
t h i n g s a t o n c e — i l l u s t r a t e s th e q u a l i t i e s o f th e romance '
w h ile a t th e same tim e p o k in g fun a t them th ro u g h p a ro d y —
I
]i t i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g to f i n d S i r Thopas and th e M elibee !
s a y in g many o f th e same t h i n g s i n d i f f e r e n t ways, For
exam ples, we can r e t u r n to th e two t o p i c s c o n t r a s t e d i n
g e n e r a l a b o v e — war and woman.
I W arfare i n S i r Thopas i s l u d i c r o u s b u sin e ss., to sa y
; th e l e a s t . I t i s a t a l e " b f b a t a i l l e and o f c h i v a l r y ”
1( V I I . 8 9^ ) j and S i r Thopas i s , o f c o u r s e , r e c o g n iz e d im
m e d ia te ly a s th e u l t i m a t e i n k n ig h th o o d — " o f w r a s tly n g was ;
j t h e r noon h i s p e e r , / T her any ram s h a l s t o n d e ” (V I I . 7^0-
; 7 ^ 1 ) . Born i n F l a n d e r s , and d e s c r i b e d th ro u g h o u t a s a
-b o u r g e o is e p r e t e n d e r to k n ig h th o o d , he i s "a knyg ht
a u n tr o u s " ( V I I . 9 0 9 ) .who w o n 't s l e e p i n any house and who
■ u s e s h i s h e lm e t f o r a p i l l o w . The c e n t r a l i n c i d e n t , h i s
E |
; b a t t l e w ith th e g i a n t O l i f a u n t (E le p h a n t) i s l ik e w i s e d e -
I :
j v o id o f r e a s o n . On one o f h i s vague o u t r i d i n g s , S i r |
I j |
! T hopas, m ad ;w ith " lo v e - lo n g y n g e , " dream s t h a t an e l f - q u e e n ;
; !
I i s to be h i s s w e e t h e a r t . R id in g f u r t h e r , he comes to " th e j
i
; i
I c o n tr e e o f F a i r y e , " w here he m eets th e g r e a t g i a n t O l i -
j !
! f a u n t , "a p e r i l o u s man o f dede" ( V I I . 8 0 9 ) . O l i f a u n t o rd e rs !
\ |
| S i r Thopas o u t o f th e c o u n tr y , and t h r e a t e n s to k i l l Tho- j
p a s ' s h o r s e i f he d o e s n 't go (a s l y c o n t r a d i c t i o n i n !
t e r m s ) , T hopas, n o t to be o u td o n e , p ro m is e s to k i l l O l i - j
! \
j f a u n t , and th e n b e a t s a q u ic k r e t r e a t amid a shower o f
j !
| s t o n e s . The rom ance c o n v e n tio n s a r e tu r n e d u p s id e down;
the wicked g ia n t O lifau n t behaveB more adm irably than S ir
Thopas: he t h r e a t e n s o n ly Thopas>s p r o p e r t y , n o t h i s l i f e .
iAnd S ir Thopas i s p o rtra y e d throughout as a/man who has no j
|understanding whatsoever of peace:
! His spere was o f fyn c ip re e s ,
! That bodeth w erre, and nothyng pees . . .
| (V II.881-882)
I He i s headstrong and f u l l o f ra n tin g p assio n :
j And t h e r e he swoor on a l e and b re e d
How t h a t th e g e a u n t s h a l be deed,
; B ity d e what b ity d e * (V I I . 872-874)
In s h o r t , he i s a comic c o u n t e r p a r t o f M e lib e u s. B oth men
I have been a tta c k e d , and both vow revenge. N either man
iknows the meaning o f fo rg iv e n e ss. In. s h o rt, most o f what
Dame Prudence says a p p lie s to both t a l e s . For example,
‘ consider S ir Thopas1s sworn vengeance a g a in s t O lifa u n t in
th e l i g h t o f th e fo llo w in g comment o f P ru dence:
Fortherm oore, ye knowen wel th a t a f t e r the oomune sawe,
! ‘i t i s a woodnesse a man to stry v e w ith a stre n g e r o r a j
moore myghty man than he i s h y m s e lf;/ and fo r to stry v e j
w ith a man o f evene s tre n g th e , th a t i s to seyn, w ith as !
stro n g a man as he i s , i t i s p e r i l ; / and fo r to stry v e j
w ith a weyker man, i t i s f o . l i e , 1/ And th e rfo re Bholde a |
! man f le e stryvynge as muchel as he m y g h te ./ (V II .1 4 8 2 - '
1485) |
1 i
! "Salomon s e i t h , ‘Werk a l l e th y th y n g e s by c o n s e i l , and thou:
! . I
! s h a l t never r e p e n t e , 1" Dame Prudence s t a t e s . A fte r |
| ;
1 th re a te n in g and then fle e in g from the g ia n t, S ir Thopas j
I ■ i
! r e tu r n s "to towne":
: i
: i
! His myrie men comanded he ;
| To make hym bothe game and g le e , ;
| For nedes moste he f ig h te j
! With a geaunt w ith hevedes th re e , |
1 1 5 !
F o r param o u r and j o l i t e e
Of oon t h a t shoon f u l b r i g h t e .
( V I I . 839-844)
The reasonB f o r b a t t l e a r e n o t weighed, o r d i s c u s s e d ; th e y
a r e j u s t s t a t e d . "Param our and j o l i t e e ' 1 a r e o f c o u rse
S
|f l i m s y e x c u s e s f o r w a r f a r e by any s t a n d a r d s . S i r Thopas
jd o e s n o t a p p e a r to have any c o u n s e l l o r s , o n ly "m yrie m en."
S i r Thopas and M e lib e u s a l s o have s i m i l a r view s on
jwoman. N o tic e th e a ssu m p tio n t h a t l i e s b e h in d S i r T h o p a s 's
I d e s i r e to mate w ith an " e l f - q u e e n e " :
'An e l f - q u e e n e wol I lo v e , y w is ,
F o r i n t h i s w o rld no womman i s
W orthy to be my make
i I n towne;
A l l e o t h e r e wommen I f o r s a k e .
And to an e l f - q u e e n e I me ta k e
By d a le and eek by dow nel'
( V I I . 790-796)
; No e a r t h l y woman i s "w orthy" to be th e companion o f o u r
1 h e r o . M elib eu s h a s a s i m i l a r l y low e s t i m a t e . He t e l l s s
P ru d e n c e , " I seye t h a t a l l e wommen b e en w ikke, and noon |
I , 1
; good o f hem a l l e " ( V I I . 10 5 7) . We m ig h t sum up by sa y in g |
: t h a t t h e two m a jo r a s p e c t s o f th e rom ances, woman and w a r- ;
; f a r e , a r e b a s i c c o n c e rn s o f b o th S i r Thopas and th e T a le o f !
I M e lib e e; and t h a t i n b o th t a l e s th e c o n c lu s io n i s a b o u t ;
I . j
j i
| th e same— a lth o u g h a r r i v e d a t th ro u g h l i t e r a r y means t h a t j
! te n d to c o n c e a l th e re s e m b la n c e , C haucer a p p e a r s to be
I ‘ ;
I s t a t i n g , th ro u g h h i s p e r s o n a , t h a t women te n d to be u n d e r - ;
I v a lu e d , and war o v e r v a lu e d a s s o l u t i o n s to th e p ro b lem s o f j
I m e d ie v a l l i f e .
1 1 6 ;
T here 1 b a n o th e r d i r e c t p a r a l l e l b etw een M e lib e u s and
| S i r Thopas t h a t i s w o rth n o t in g h e r e . You may r e c a l l Dame
P r u d e n c e 's e x p l a n a t i o n o f h e r h u s b a n d 's problem :
| Thy name i s Melibee,, t h i s i s to sey n , ' a man t h a t d ry n -
| k e th h o n y . ’ Thou h a s t y d ro n k e so m uchel hony o f sw eete
j te m p o re e l r i c h e s s e s , and d e l i c e s and h o n o u rs o f t h i s
| w o rld , t h a t thou a r t d ro n k en , and h a s t f o r g e t e n JhesU'
! C r i s t th y c r e a t o u r . ( V I I , l 4 0 9 ~ l 4 l l )
i '
I Now th e w o rld o f S i r Thopas a l s o r e e k s o f " te m p o re e l r i c h -
i
: e s s e s " — c l o t h e s , fo o d , arm am ents, w o r ld ly h o n o rs and m is
p l a c e d p a s s i o n , The s p e c i f i c p a r a l l e l betw een S i r Thopas
and M elibeus i n t h i s r e s p e c t ^eems to o c c u r i n th e f o l lo w
in g s t a n z a — from th e d e s c r i p t i o n o f S i r Thopas a t th e p a r t y
on th e eve o f h i s secon d b a t t l e w ith O l i f a u n t ( t h e b a t t l e
w hich i s n e v e r d e s c r i b e d on a c c o u n t o f H a rry B a i l l y ' s i n -
i t e r r u p t i o n ) :
\ They f e t t e hym f i r s t th e sw eete. wyn,
' And mede eek i n a m azelyn,
And r o i a l s p i c e r y e , . .
"Mede," o f c o u r s e , i s a f e r m e n ta ti o n o f honey and
; j
: w a t e r , S i r T hopas, to o , i s "a man t h a t d r y n k e th h o n y "— !
a man who i s d r iv e n by p a s s i o n i n s t e a d o f r e a s o n , a man i n j
jn e e d o f a c o n s o l a t i o , o r an a s t u t e p eacem ak er, com panion, :
; and a d v i s o r l i k e Dame P ru d e n c e , Now t h i s i s n o t to w ish
j |
{ t h a t S i r Thopas w ere a n y th in g b u t what he i s , from th e
j s t a n d p o i n t o f l i t e r a t u r e , b u t m ere ly to i n d i c a t e th e s e r i - [
i i
; o u s b ack g ro u n d a g a i n s t w hich he a c t s o u t h i s charm ing
! 1
! f o o l e r y . In view o f th e o t h e r p a r a l l e l s we have e s t a b - j
i i
i l i s h e d , t h i s f i n a l one o f h o n e y - d r in k in g does n o t seem j
117
I
g r a t u i t o u s . Both men a c t a s i f th e y have f o r g o t t e n th e ;
words o f J e s u s c o n c e rn in g f o r g i v e n e s s and t u r n i n g th e o t h e r
| ch ee k . Both men say., "Vengeance i s m in e!"
As to j u s t why C haucer s h o u ld so c o m p le te ly u n i f y th e
l 1
I p e rfo rm a n c e o f h i s p e r s o n a , and why he chose th e t a l e s
| t h a t he d i d , w ith t h e i r r e l a t e d themes,* no s u re answ ers
have been g i v e n . Up to t h i s p o i n t we have m ere ly been
t r y i n g to p ro v e t h a t th e p e rfo rm a n c e i s _ u n i f i e d . Some a t -
; te m p ts have been made, how ever, to p ro v e t h a t Chaucer was
;aim ing a t s p e c i f i c s o c i a l p ro b le m s, and even a t s p e c i f i c
|p e r s o n s . We r e c a l l L e s l i e H o ts o n 's a tte m p t to p ro v e t h a t
; th e T ale o f M elibee was t r a n s l a t e d by Chaucer i n an e f f o r t :
to d is s u a d e John o f Gaunt from h i s w ars i n S p a in , and th e
f a c t t h a t G a u n t's a b se n c e d u rin g th o s e w ars u n d o u b te d ly
had som ething to do w ith C h a u c e r 's l o s s o f h i s c o u r t a p - ]
p o i n tm e n ts . G a rd in e r S t i l l w e l l p o i n t e d o u t t h a t th e M e li-
I bee c o u ld be a p p l i e d i n g e n e r a l to s e v e r a l o f th e p o l i t i c a l :
i c r i s e s i n C h a u c e r 's tim e ; and George W illia m s h a s r e c e n t l y I
; d is c o v e r e d i n th e d i c t i o n o f S i r Thopas th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f :
[some c l e v e r l y c o n c e a le d r e f e r e n c e s to R ic h a r d I I and p r o b - I
|a b l y Gaunt a s w e l l . ^ But C h a u c e r 's m o tiv e s f o r t h i s rem ain]
|t o be shown; u n t i l more e v id e n c e i s i n we can o n ly say t h a t :
j
! such f i n d i n g s would n o t be i n c o n s i s t e n t w ith w hat we have
|
!t r i e d to p u t fo rw a rd h e r e , and t h a t th e p i l g r i m - n a r r a t o r ' s j
j j
; j
i
| New View o f C haucer (Durham, 1 9 6 5)^ p p . 145-* 151* I
p e rfo rm a n c e I s a s e r i o u s and w e l l - o r g a n i z e d p i e c e o f h ig h
comedy t h a t m ust he g r a n t e d a m ajo r p l a c e I n th e C a n te rb u ry
i T a l e s .
j T — i r- 1 r
Which b r i n g s u s , f i n a l l y , to th e open ing l i n k , ’’th e
i
| murye w ordes o f th e H oost to C h a u c e r," Looking a t i t now,
|w i t h a l l th e a n a l y s i s o f th e r e s t b e h i n d u s , i t seems to
i f i t a s w e l l . Here I s a p i l g r i m whose e y es a r e alw ays f i x e d
i
: on th e g ro u n d , and who d o e s n ’ t t r a d e jo k e s w ith th e r e s t
I o f th e t r a v e l l e r s . H a rry makes a good jo k e o u t o f t h i s ,
b u t t h e Image o f a b ro o d in g f i g u r e r e m a in s — C h a u c e r’ s p e r -
I s o n a , who knows o n ly one m erry t a l e t h a t he " l e r n e d longe
agoon" ( V I I , 7 0 9 ) j a jo h n n y - o n e - n o te who f o r a l l o f h i s
; n a i v e t e k e ep s r e t u r n i n g — c o n s c i o u s ly o r u n c o n s c i o u s ly — to
■ th e same them es 1 f o r g i v e n e s s , m o d e ra tio n o f th e p a s s i o n s ,
good c o u n s e l. I t does n o t seem n e c e s s a r y to a c c e p t Hupp^’s
n o t i o n t h a t C haucer w a i t s u n t i l t h e m iddle l i n k to b e g in
a d d r e s s in g u s d i r e c t l y . I can se n se him from th e b e g in -
; n i n g , sp e a k in g to u s , a s he alw ay s d o e s, th ro u g h t h i s
s t r a n g e and p u z z l in g f i g u r e .
CHAPTER V
THE TAIE OP MELIBEE IN FRAGMENT V II
OF THE CANTERBURY TALES
In th e l a s t c h a p t e r , we d e m o n s tra te d t h a t th e T ale o f
M elibee i s an i n t e g r a l p a r t o f th e p e rfo rm an c e o f Chaucer
th e p i l g r i m ; t h a t i t p r o v id e s a m ea n in g fu l c o n t r a s t to th e
b e l l i c o s i t y and a n tif e m in is m o f th e T ale o f S i r Thopas and
th e h i g h ly com ic—b u t m o ra lly d i s a s t r o u s —m a rria g e o f H arry
B a i l l y . We have seen t h a t th e M elibee i s p r o b a b ly n o t j u s t
a " j o k e ," some means f o r th e p i l g r i m - n a r r a t o r to g e t r e
venge f o r b e in g c u t o f f d u rin g h i s f i r s t t a l e , o r to seem
n o t to be com peting w ith th e r e s t o f th e t e l l e r s f o r th e
p r i z e a t th e end o f th e jo u r n e y . And we know now t h a t i t
i s p r o b a b ly n o t j u s t a sop to s o - c a l l e d "m edieval t a s t e . "
W ith i t s s e r i o u s t r e a t m e n t o f th e p ro b lem s o f m a r i t a l
s o v e r e i g n t y , good c o u n s e l, w a r f a r e , and v en g ea n ce , th e
T a le o f M elibee n eed n o t be t r e a t e d a s a s e c o n d - c l a s s c i t
i z e n among th e t a l e s .
In t h i s c h a p t e r , we w i l l b ro ad en o u r p e r s p e c t i v e to
in c l u d e a l l o f Fragm ent V II i n an a tte m p t to d e te rm in e any
l a r g e r r o l e t h a t th e T ale o f M elibee m ight p l a y i n th e
C a n te rb u ry T a le s , b a se d on o u r f i n d i n g s th u s f a r . The
~ 120 :
p r e s e n c e o f any one t a l e i n such a c o l l e c t i o n i s bound to
a f f e c t th e way we r e a d some o f th e o th ers., j u s t a s th e
words o f a s i n g l e poem te n d to q u a l i f y and m odify each
o t h e r ' s m eanings. W hether th e r e l a t i o n s h i p s we a r e a b o u t
to d i s c u s s w ere c o n s c i o u s ly in te n d e d by Chaucer can n e v e r
be known f o r c e r t a i n , and i s r e a l l y beyond o u r p u rp o se
h e r e . We w i l l sim p ly assume t h a t Chaucer was an a r t i s t
who worked by d e s ig n r a t h e r th a n by a c c i d e n t o r g r a t u i t y .
In com paring t a l e s , th e c r i t i c ' s j u s t i f i c a t i o n l i e s sim p ly
i n h i s a b i l i t y to p ro v e t h a t h i s co m p a riso n s add to o u r
u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e m eanings in v o lv e d .
The T ale o f M elibee h a s been p l a c e d f o u r t h i n a s e r i e s -
o f s i x t a l e s t h a t make up Fragm ent V II (Group B ) o f th e
C a n te rb u ry T a l e s . These t a l e s a re s th e S h ip m a n 's, P r i
o r e s s ' s , S i r T hopas, th e M e lib e e, M onk's, and N un's
P r i e s t ' s — i n t h a t o r d e r . In th e m a n u s c r ip ts t h e s e t a l e s
u s u a l l y fo llo w th e P a r d o n e r 's T a l e -a n d p r e c e d e th e Second
Nun' s T a l e , F. N. R obinson e s t a b l i s h e d a c o n v e n ie n t b e
g in n in g p o i n t f o r c r i t i c i s m o f th e a r t i s t i c u n i t y o f t h i s ;
fra g m e n t some y e a r s back by s t a t i n g t h a t " w ith in th e gro u p ;
i
t h e r e seems to be no p r i n c i p l e o f a rra n g e m e n t save t h a t o f j
c o n t r a s t o r v a r i e t y " (Works, p . 1 1 ).
T h at v a r i e t y o r c o n t r a s t h a s som ething to do w ith th e j
seq u en ce o f th e t a l e s i s c e r t a i n . F or exam ple, j u s t c o n - j
s i d e r th e g e n re s t h a t a r e p a ra d e d b e f o r e u s : th e S h ip m an 's i
i
I
t a l e i s a f a b l i a u ; th e P r i o r e s s ' s a " m ira c le o f th e V i r - ;
g i n " ; S i r Thopas a p a ro d y o r b u r le s q u e o f th e rom ance; th e ;
M ellbee a c o n s o l a t l o ; th e Monk’s a s e r i e s o f t r a g e d i e s ; i
and th e N u n 's P r i e s t ' s a b e a s t - f a b l e i n m o ck -h e ro ic s t y l e . *
|T h e re i s a l s o an a l t e r n a t i o n betw een th e s e r i o u s and th e |
' com ic, w hich i s c o n s i s t e n t '—b e g in n in g w ith th e comedy o f
i
| th e S h ip m an 's t a l e — e x c e p t f o r th e p l a c e where th e so b e r
i •
Monk1s T a le fo llo w s th e h ig h s e r i o u s n e s s o f th e M e lib e e ,
! The fra g m e n t c o n t a i n s b o th p r o s e and v e r s e ; and i n v e r s e
i n o t o n ly th e f a m i l i a r c o u p l e t — a t th e b e g in n in g and en d—
b u t i n th e m id d le t a l e s th e P r i o r e s s ’s s t a n z a (a b a b b c c ),
| two ty p e s o f th e m e t r i c a l romance s t a n z a i n S i r T hopas,
and th e M onk's s t a n z a (a b a b b c b c ). Here i s God'.s v a r i e t y
a s w e l l a s h i s p l e n t y ; i n no o t h e r frag m e n t o f th e C a n te r - ;
b u ry T a le s a r e we p r e s e n t e d w ith a s many v a r i a t i o n s o f
s t y l e .
The v e ry o b v io u s n a t u r e o f t h i s p r i n c i p l e o f v a r i e t y , ;
| i n t u r n , h a s le d to s u g g e s t i o n s t h a t C haucer had a d e e p e r
I i n t e n t i o n . For exam ple, A lan T. G aylo rd h a s r e c e n t l y s u g - |
' g e s t e d t h a t Fragm ent V II "has v a r i e t y in u n i t y ; a s u c c e s - ;
I s i o n o f p a r t s w ith b e g in n in g , m id d le , and end; and p ro c e e d s j
th ro u g h t h e s e w ith p u rp o se and s k i l l . ' 1'1 ' For G a y lo rd , F ra g -j
i
ment V II i s C h a u c e r 's " L i t e r a t u r e G roup," " c o n t r o l l e d by a !
i
s i n g l e , th o u g h a d m i t te d ly v e ry b ro a d s u b j e c t : th e a r t o f ;
! j
i s
| l n S e n te n c e and S o la a s i n Fragm ent V II o f th e C a n te r -
I b u ry T a l e s ; H arry B a i l l y a s H orseback E d i t o r , " PMLA,
| 8 2 :2 2 7 ,' May 1 9 6 7.
122
s t o r y t e l l i n g * " and h e l d t o g e t h e r m ost c o n s p ic u o u s ly by
H a rry B a i l l y ' s e f f o r t s to e x e r c i s e h i s " e d i t o r i a l a u t h o r i -
! t y " — c a l l i n g f o r t a l e s o f c e r t a i n kinds* i n t e r r u p t i n g th o s e
; he does n o t lik e * p r a i s i n g th o s e he does* and so on. The
i
| fra g m e n t th u s c u lm in a te s i n th e N u n 's P r i e s t ' s t a l e * which
!i s m eant to be " th e d e m o n s tra tio n o f th e s t o r y t e l l e r ' s
| h i g h e s t a r t " ( "S e n te n c e and S o l a a s * 1 1 p p . 2 2 6 -2 2 7 ).
We have a l r e a d y seen an exam ple o f G a y l o r d 's p o i n t i n
I o u r d i s c u s s i o n o f th e r e l a t i o n betw een th e M elibee and S i r
T h o p asi th e H ost c a l l i n g f i r s t f o r a m erry ta le * th e n
r u d e l y i n t e r r u p t i n g * and f i n a l l y p r a i s i n g a m oral t a l e .
We have a l s o seen t h e ' c l o s e — and p r o b a b ly c a l c u l a t e d —
r e a s o n s f o r th e a s s o c i a t i o n o f Thopas and th e M elibee from
th e s t a n d p o i n t o f theme* c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n * and t r a d i t i o n s .
What G a y l o r d 's co m prehensive view o f th e u n i t y o f Fragm ent
; V II s u g g e s t s i s th e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t th e M elibee h a s been
p o s i t i o n e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y I n terms, o f th e r e s t o f th e t a l e s
In Fragm ent V I I a s w e l l . G aylord h i m s e l f c o n c e n t r a t e s on
th e commanding f i g u r e o f H arry a s th e c o n t r o l l i n g f e a t u r e
i n th e sequence* b u t he does n o te i n p a s s i n g th e " i n t e r -
| p l a y o f theme" t h a t he s e n s e s among a l l o f th e t a l e s . In
| o u r case* t h i s i s a m a t t e r w orth p u r s u in g I n much more
|
I d e t a i l * and a lo n g o u r p a r t i c u l a r l i n e s h e r e . We w i l l p u r -
js u e G a y l o r d 's v a lu a b le l e a d and exam ine th e M e lib e e 1s
| r e l a t i o n to th e t a l e s i n th e im m ediate c o n t e x t o f Fragm ent
i
V II* We may a s w e l l b e g in w i t h t h e P r i o r e s s ’ s ta le ., w h ich '
p r e c e d e s S i r T h o p a s . I
| The f i r s t t h i n g to be n o t e d a b o u t t h e P r i o r e s s ’ b t a l e I
i s t h a t i t i s p r o b a b l y n o t a s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d " m ir a c l e o f
t h e V i r g i n . " A lm ost from th e b e g in n in g ., c r i t i c s h av e n o te d :
j a f u n d a m e n ta l a m b ig u ity u n d e r n e a t h i t s s u r f a c e p i e t y t h a t I
i :
; seem s p a r a l l e l t o t h e am biguous d e s c r i p t i o n o f th e P r i o r e s s !
| i n th e G e n e r a l P r o l o g u e , H ere i s a woman, and a C h r i s t i a n ,
who i s
so c h a r i t a b l e and so p i t o u s
She w olde wepe, i f t h a t she sa u g h a mous
K aught i n a t r a p p e , i f i t w ere d eed o r b l e d d e .
( 1 .1 4 3 - 1 4 5 ) ,
b u t who h a s no c h a r i t y , p i t y , o r t e a r s f o r a g ro u p o f Jews
: i n h e r t a l e who a r e f i r s t drawn a p a r t by w i l d h o r s e s and
; t h e n h a n g ed f o r c o n s p i r i n g i n t h e m u rd e r o f a C h r i s t i a n
c h i l d . The t a l e i s b r i e f l y t h u s : g o in g t o and from s c h o o l I
le a c h d ay , t h i s l i t t l e boy p a s s e s th r o u g h a J e w is h g h e t t o . |
|D e v o te d to t h e V i r g i n , he s i n g s t h e an th em Alma red em p -
i I
I t o r i s a lo n g t h e way. T h is i n f u r i a t e s t h e Je w s; t h e y h i r e
one o f t h e i r num ber t o m u rd er him . He c u t s t h e b o y ’ s
I t h r o a t and t o s s e s him i n a p r i v y j b u t t h e V i r g i n t u r n s t h e |
S s i t u a t i o n to h e r a d v a n ta g e t h r o u g h a m i r a c l e . B e ca u se o f :
i j
I t h e b o y ’s g r e a t d e v o t i o n , she p l a c e s a " g r a i n " on h i s j
! to n g u e t h a t n o t o n l y s u s t a i n s h i s l i f e b u t a l s o e n a b l e s j
; !
jh im t o b u r s t i n t o song a g a i n , even th o u g h h i s t h r o a t i s I
I !
j c u t . The lo u d s i n g i n g d i r e c t s h i s f r a n t i c a l l y s e a r c h i n g I
m o th e r and o t h e r C h r i s t i a n s to t h e s p o t w here he l i e s c o n - j
c e a l e d . An o f f i c i a l i s c a l l e d who th e n su m m arily e x e c u te s ., ;
a s I h av e d e s c r ib e d ., a l l o f th e Jew s who h a d know ledge o f
t h i s a f f a i r . The boy i s c a r r i e d t o t h e c h u r c h w here l a t e r
t h e g r a i n i s rem oved fro m h i s to n g u e and he d i e s , b o th a
m a r t y r and a m i r a c l e b e c a u s e o f h i s f a i t h i n t h e V i r g i n .
As X s a i d b e f o r e , t h e s u r f a c e o f th e t a l e t e n d s to
c o n c e a l an am biguous m o r a l i t y . T h ere i s n o t enough m ercy
i n M a ry ’s " w e lle o f m ercy" (V IX .6 5 6 ) , a s f a r a s t h e P r i o r - :
e s s i s c o n c e rn e d , f o r any o f i t t o be g i v e n t o th e t o r t u r e d
and e x e c u te d Je w s, e s p e c i a l l y . Bay, to t h o s e who o n ly
" w i s t e " (knew) o f t h e m u rd er and may h av e h a d no d i r e c t
h a n d — o r even i n d i r e c t h a n d — i n t h e m urder i t s e l f . The
t e x t i s so g e n e r a l on t h i s p o i n t t h a t m ere k n ow ledge o f
t h e crim e i s e q u a t e d w i t h g u i l t . I n a d d i t i o n , R. J .
S c h o eck h a s shown t h a t s t o r i e s o f Jew s m u rd e rin g C h r i s t i a n -
c h i l d r e n w ere so m etim es u s e d i n t h e M iddle Ages a s a p r e
t e x t f o r v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t Jew s and s e i z u r e o f t h e i r p r o p e r - ;
t y — and t h a t su c h p r a c t i c e s w ere e x p l i c i t l y condemned by
2 *
t h e C h u rc h . A l l t h e e v i d e n c e , t e x t u a l and o t h e r w i s e , ;
seem s to i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e P r i o r e s s ’ s t a l e m e r e ly d ram a- j
j
t i z e s an a m b ig u ity t h a t h e r g o l d b r o o c h s t a t e s i n l i t t l e : j
i
Amor v i n c i t o m n ia .
I
2 " C h a u c e r ’ s P r i o r e s s : Mercy an d T e n d e r H e a r t , " i n
R i c h a r d J . S ch o eck and Jerom e T a y l o r , e d s . , C h a u ce r C r i t i
c is m (N o tre Dame, I n d i a n a , i 9 6 0 ) , p p . 245-25'S~!
125
The T ale o f M elibee p r o v i d e s a c o n t r a s t to t h i s c e n
t r a l i r o n y i n th e P r i o r e s s ’ s t a l e . F o r example., compare
th e t r e a tm e n t o f th e Jews i n th e P r i o r e s s ’s s t o r y w ith
t h i s g e n e r a l comment on th e e v i l s o f ta k in g v engeance:
0 [one] vengeaunce i s n a t w a r is s h e d by a n o th e r vengeaunce
. . . b u t e v e r i c h o f hem e n c r e e s c e t h and a g g re g g e th
o o th e r . . . B ut c e r t e s , w ik k ed n esse s h a l be w a r is s h e d
by g o o d n e sse , d i s c o r d by accord., w e rre by pees., and so
f o r t h o f o t h e r e t h y n g e s . / And h e e r t o a c c o r d e th S e i n t
P a u l th e A p o s tle i n manye p l a c e s . / He s e i t h : . . . ’do
w el to hym t h a t d o o th th e e harm., and b l e s s e hym t h a t
s e i t h to th e e h a r m ,’ ( V I I . 1285-129^)
T h is i s t r a d i t i o n a l C h r i s t i a n i d e a l i s m . M e lib e u s ’s
enem ies b r e a k i n t o h i s house., b e a t h i s w if e , and wound h i s
d a u g h te r i n f i v e p l a c e s and le a v e h e r f o r d ead. In th e
c o u rs e o f th e t a l e he i s p e rs u a d e d by P rudence to f o r g i v e
th e a t t a c k e r s c o m p le te ly . I n th e P r i o r e s s ’s T a le a l i t t l e
C h r i s t i a n boy i s m urdered by some w icked Jew s. When th e
crim e i s d is c o v e r e d , n o t o n ly h i s m u rd e re r, b u t a l l th o s e
who "knew a b o u t" th e deed a re im m e d ia te ly t o r t u r e d , and
th e n h an g ed . The s t r i k i n g c o n t r a s t betw een com plete f o r
g i v e n e s s and th e co m plete a b se n c e o f f o r g i v e n e s s I s th e
b e s t g e n e r a l i n d i c a t i o n t h a t t h e two t a l e s w ere meant to
be r e l a t e d and c o n t r a s t e d .
T h is does n o t mean t h a t a c c o rd in g to th e T a le o f
M elibee th e m u rd e re rs In th e P r i o r e s s ’ s t a l e sh o u ld have
|g o n e s c o t f r e e , w ith a b leB S in g and f o r g i v e n e s s — thoug h i t
i s c l e a r t h a t t h i s re m a in s th e i d e a l . A c t u a l l y , th e T ale
o f M elibee p r o v i d e s f o r r e t a l i a t i o n u n d e r s p e c i f i c con-
d i t l o n s t h a t h e a r d i r e c t l y on th e c e n t r a l i r o n y o f th e I
j
P r i o r e s s ’ b n a r r a t i v e : h e r d e s c r i p t i o n o f th e c a p t u r e and
i p u n ish m en t o f th e Jew s: j
j
i The O r i s t e n e f o l k t h a t th u r g h th e s t r e t e w ente I
I In coomen f o r to wondre upon t h i s th y n g ,
| And h a s t i l y th e y f o r th e p r o v o s t s e n t e ; j
! He cam anon w ith o u te n t a r i y n g ,
i And h e r i e t h C r i s t t h a t i s o f h evene kyng,
1 And eek h i s m ooder, honour o f mankynde,
And a f t e r t h a t th e Jewes l e e t he bynde. . . .
W ith to rm e n t and w ith sh a m efu l d e e th echon
T h is p r o v o s t d o o th t h i s e Jewes f o r to s t e r v e
T hat o f t h i s m ordre w i s t e , and t h a t anon.
He n o ld e no sw ich c u rs e d n e s s e o b s e r v e .
'Y v ele s h a l have t h a t y v e le wol d e s e r v e ’ :
T h e rf o re w ith w ild e h o r s he d id e hem draw e,
i And a f t e r t h a t he heng hem by t h e law e.
i ( v n . 6 1 4 - 6 2 0 , 6 2 8- 6 3 3 )
; N o tic e f i r s t th e em p hasis on h a s t e . ■ T h at th e p r o v o s t
i s h o u ld come to th e sc en e o f th e crim e " w ith o u te n t a r i y n g "
; i s to be e x p e c te d , b u t th e s w i f t n e s s o f h i s J u s t i c e i s
s u s p e c t . No p r o c e e d in g s a r e d e s c r i b e d and none a r e to be
! i n f e r r e d . No d i s t i n c t i o n o f g u i l t betw een th e a c t u a l
| m u rd e re r, h i s c lo s e a c c o m p lic e s , and th o s e who m e re ly j
I "knew" o f th e crim e i s made. As you w i l l r e c a l l , M e lib eu s !
: i s p r e p a r i n g to a c t w ith e q u a l q u ic k n e s s and s e v e r i t y when ;
| h i s w ife d is s u a d e s him: j
i j
j ’F or th e commune p r o v e r b e s e i t h t h u s : "He t h a t soone |
j deem eth, soone s h a l r e p e n t e , " / And eek men seyn t h a t j
| t h i l k e Juge i s wys t h a t soone u n d e r s t o n d e t h a m a t i e r e j
| and ju g g e th by l e y s e r ; / f o r a l be i t so t h a t a l l e t a r i - j
I yng by a n o y f u l, a l g a t e s i t I s n a t t o r e p r e v e I n yevynge ;
I o f Juggem ent ne i n ven g ean ce ta k y n g , whan i t i s s u f -
| f i c e a n t and r e s o n a b l e . .. . . ‘ The p r o v e r b e s e i t h , "He
I h a s t e t h w el t h a t w i s e l y kan a b y d e ," and i n w ikked haB te
i s no p r o f i t . ’ ( V I I ,I O 3 0-IO 3 2, 1054)
The p r o v o s t ’ s p u n ish m en t I s a ls o e x c e s s i v e — t o say th e
l e a s t —when Judged by th e s t a n d a r d s o f th e T ale o f M e lib e e , i
M e lib e u s ’ s own c o n c e p tio n o f a m ild s e n t e n c e — " to d e s h e r i t e !
ihem o f a l t h a t e v e re th e y han* and f o r to p u t t e hem i n e x i l |
; f o r e v e r e " ( V I I . I 8 3 5 ) — i s a sh a rp c o n t r a s t to th e p r o v o s t ’s |
I t o r t u r e s ; b u t even t h i s Dame P rudence c a l l s "a c r u e e l s e n - '
I !
te n c e and m uchel agayn re s o u n " ( V I I . I 8 3 6 ) . The p h r a s e "by >
!th e lawe" i n th e P r i o r e s s ' s a c c o u n t o f th e h a n g in g iB p r o b -
j a b ly an i r o n i c a l l u s i o n to th e f a c t t h a t th e C h r i s t i a n s o f
I h e r t a l e a r e a c t u a l l y l i v i n g by th e o l d J e w is h s t a n d a r d o f
; "an eye f o r an e y e " — o r p e rh a p s som ething worse* s i n c e
i p u l l i n g p e o p le a p a r t w ith h o r s e s and th e n h a n g in g them i s
v i r t u a l l y to k i l l them t w i c e — two e y e s f o r an eye., so to
s p e a k . The fo llo w in g commentary i n th e M elibee a p p l i e s
d i r e c t l y to t h i s p o i n t :
I n no o a a s o f th e w o rld a man s h o ld e n a t doon o u tr a g e ne
e x c e s s e f o r to vengen h y m ,/ For O a s s id o r e s e i t h t h a t
’a s y v e le d o o th he t h a t v e n g e th hym by o u tr a g e a s he t h a t :
d o o th th e o u t r a g e , ’/ And t h e r f o r e ye s h u l venge yow
a f t e r th e o r d r e o f r i g h t * t h a t i s to seyn* by th e lawe*
and n o g h t by e x c e s s e ne by o u t r a g e , ( V I I , 1527-1530)
:And on th e m a t t e r o f s e l f - d e f e n s e I n g e n e ra l* Prudence
; j
s t a t e s : I
And i t b i h o v e th t h a t a man p u t t e sw ich a tte m p e ra n c e i n j
h i s d e f e n s e / t h a t men have no c a u se ne m a tie r e to r e - j
p re v e n hym t h a t d e f f e n d e t h hym o f e x c e s s e and o u tra g e * j
I f o r e l l i s were i t agayn r e s o u n , ( V I I , 1535-1536) |
i j
! The S hipm an1s T a le I s a f a b l i a u in v o lv i n g a m erchant*
I h i s w ife* and a monk who h a s been a c l o s e " f r i e n d " o f th e
|m e rc h a n t f o r a long tim e . The w ife h a s ru n up a b i l l f o r
; a h u n d red f r a n c s and i s c e r t a i n t h a t h e r penny p in c h in g
128
husband w i l l go th ro u g h th e c e l l i n g when he f i n d s o u t . In
d e s p e r a t i o n she c o n f i d e s h e r sorrow i n "daun J o h n . ” They
!sw ear to keep e a c h o t h e r ’ s " c o n s e i l ” and she t e l l s him th e
|
|whole s t o r y . As i t t u r n s o u t , h e r husband i s n o t o n ly
I
I t i g h t w ith r e s p e c t to money., b u t i n bed a s w e l l . I f o n ly
Ijohn would le n d h e r th e money she would be w i l l i n g to do
j" a n y th in g " to r e p a y . John d o e s. He borrow s th e money from
ith e m erch an t h i m s e l f , u n d e r a f a l s e p r e t e x t , and s l i p s i t
J
;to th e w i f e . L a t e r , when th e m erc h an t i s away on b u s i n e s s ,
he e n jo y s th e w i f e ’s f a v o r s f o r a n i g h t . When th e m erchant
!r e t u r n s he goes to th e monk f o r h i s money. Daun John h as
h i s answ er re a d y ; he: h a s a lr e a d y r e p a i d th e sum to th e
m e r c h a n t’ s w i f e , At home and i n bed w ith h i s w ife a g a in ,
t h e m erch an t s c o l d s h e r f o r n o t t e l l i n g him a b o u t th e r e
p ay m en t. T h in k in g q u i c k l y , she b o l d l y s t a t e s t h a t she
th o u g h t th e money was a g i f t to h e r s e l f , b e c a u se o f th e
I g r e a t f r i e n d s h i p betw een th e two men. As f o r h e r d e b ts
i
:to h e r h usban d, sh e w i l l r e p a y them i n b e d — " s c o r e i t upon
;my t a i l l e " (V 1 1 .4 l6 ) , The m erch an t g i v e s up t r y i n g to
| t r a c e th e money and r e t u r n s to th e o f t n e g l e c t e d b u s in e s s
]a t han d .
I
! The T ale o f M elibee p r o v i d e s a c o n t r a s t to t h i s h i g h ly
I comic n a r r a t i v e i n t h r e e im p o r ta n t r e s p e c t s . The f i r s t
i l i e s i n Dame P ru d e n c e ’ s w arnin g a g a i n s t r e v e a l i n g o u r p r i -
! v a te t h o u g h ts , o r " c o n s e i l , 1 1 to o t h e r s . The fo llo w in g
|t r u i s m i s v i r t u a l l y e n a c te d i n th e Shipm an’ s t a l e ;
129
’B iw rey n a t y o u re c o n s e i l to no p e r s o n e , b u t I f so be
t h a t ye wenen s i k e r l y t h a t th u r g h y o u re biw reyyng y o u re
c o n d ic io u n s h a l be to yow th e moore p r o f i t a b l e . / F o r
J h e s u s S yrak s e i t h , ’'N e ith e r to th y fo o , ne to th y f r e n d ,
d i s c o v e r e n a t th y s e c r e e ne th y folle;/ f o r th e y wol
yeve yow a u d ie n c e and lookynge and s u p p o r ta c io u n i n th y
p r e s e n c e j and sc o rn e th e e i n thy n a b s e n s e . " 1 (‘ V T I.1140-
1142) I
The m e r c h a n t 's w ife c o n f id e s b o th h e r s e c r e t and h e r f o l l y
j *
i n t h e monk, and he g i v e s h e r a g r e a t d e a l o f " a u d ie n c e and
lookynge and s u p p o rta c io u n " i n h e r p r e s e n c e :
I
'T h a t I yow sw ere, and p l i g h t e ’yow my t r o u t h e ,
Than whan y o u re housbonde i s to F la n d r e s f a r e ,
I wol d e ly v e r e yow o u t o f t h i s c a r e ;
F o r I wol bryng e yow an h u n d red f r a n k e s . ’
And w ith t h a t word he c a u g h te h i r e by th e f l a n k e s .
And h i r e e m b raceth h a r d e , and k i s t e h i r e o f t e .
( v i i . 198-203)
In h e r a b s e n c e , and a f t e r he h a s ta k e n h i s p l e a s u r e , daun
i John makes no e f f o r t to p r o v id e h i s s w e e th e a r t w ith an
a l i b i . He t e l l s th e h usband:
I to o k u n to o u re dame,
Youre wyf, a t hom, th e same g o ld ageyn
Upon y o u re b ench; she woot i t w el, c e r t e y n .
By c e r t e y n to k e n e s t h a t I kan h i r e t e l l e .
( V I I . 356-359)
I As Dame P rudence s a y s , "Whan thou b iw r e y e s t th y c o n s e i l to
' any w ig h t, he h o l d e t h th e e i n h i s s n a r e " ( V I I .1 1 4 5 ) . The
I c l e v e r w ife i s p r o b a b ly aware o f th e p i t f a l l s i n su ch a
| c o u rs e from th e v e ry b e g in n in g . I n f a c t . I t I s c l e a r t h a t
|
I she d e l i b e r a t e l y u s e s h e r p a c t w ith th e monk In o r d e r to
i
j make t h i n g s "moore p r o f i t a b l e " to h e r s e l f . F or exam ple,
i she u s e s th e p ro m ise o f sex from th e v e ry b e g in n in g to
l u r e daun John i n t o h e r c o n f id e n c e ; and In a se n se he i s
as much in h e r "sn are" a s she i s in his* Her sh a rin g o f
" c o n s e il" w ith him, in t h i s re sp e c t., i s a su c c e ss. But i t
was— looked a t s o b e rly — a dangerous co u rse ; and th e comic
iro n y l i e s in th e f a c t t h a t a p r o f i t o f one hundred francB
was r e a l i z e d o nly a f t e r th e expense o f an a d u lte r y .
The second c o n t r a s t betw een th e M elibee and th e S h ip
man rs t a l e i n v o lv e s Dame P r u d e n c e ’s t e a c h i n g s on th e su b
j e c t s o f f r i e n d s h i p and f l a t t e r y . "Salomon s e i t h t h a t
. . . ’g o ld ne s i l v e r ben n a t so muche w o rth a s th e goode
wyl o f a trew e f r e e n d 1" ( V I I . l l 6 0 ) . The com parison i s
v e ry a p t a s f a r a s th e m erch an t i s c o n c e rn e d . Daun John
i s o b v io u s ly n o t a t r u e frie n d ., and i n h i s d e a l in g s w ith
th e w ife he i s n o t a r e a l c o u n s e l l o r , b u t m ere ly a f l a t
t e r e r —
’ sw iche a s e n fo rc e n hem r a t h e r to p r e i s e y o u re p e rs o n e
by f l a t e r y e th a n f o r to t e l l e yow th e s o o t h f a s t n e s s e o f
t h y n g e s , / W herfore T u l l i u s s e i t h , "Amonges a l l e th e
p e s t i l e n c e s t h a t b een i n f r e e n d s h i o e t h e ' g r e t t e s t e i s
f l a t e r i e . " ’ ( V I I . 1175-1176)
"He i s na moore cosyn u n to m e," th e monk sa y s o f th e mer
c h a n t,
’Than i s t h i s l e e f t h a t h a n g e th on th e t r e e ’
I cle p e hym so, by S e in t Denys o f F raunce,
To have th e moore c au se o f aq u ey n tau n c e
Of yow, w hich I have lo v e d s p e c i a l l y
Aboven a l l e wommen, s i k e r l y . ’ (V I I . 149-154)
The t h i r d and f i n a l s e c t i o n o f th e M elibee t h a t b e a r s
on th e Shipm an’s t a l e i s Dame P ru d e n c e ’ s d i s c u s s i o n o f th e
r i g h t a q u i s i t i o n and u s e o f r i c h e s ; and m ost o f t h i s a p -
131
p l i e s t o th e m e rc h a n t. H ere i s a man who i s so busy making
"ch ev y ssau n c e" (b ig p r o f i t s , u s u r y , o r w orse) t h a t he n e g -
| l e c t s to pay th e m a r r ia g e " d e b t 1 ' (s e e I C or. V I I 13) . As a
' r e s u l t , someone e l s e , nam ely daun John , p a y s t h i s o v e r -
j
|lo o k e d d e b t i n h i s a b s e n c e . The m e rc h a n t, f o r a l l h i s
I b u s i n e s s acumen, i s made an u n w i t t i n g c u c k o ld , and h i s
:w ife an a d u l t e r e s s . Dame Prudence sums up th e b a s i c human
| t r u t h t h a t u n d e r l i e s th e comedyt
' F i r s t , ye s h u l g e te n hem [ r i c h e s ] w ith o u te n g r e e t d e s i r ,
by good l e y s e r , so k y n g ly [ g r a d u a l l y ] and n a t o v e r - h a s
t i l y . / F o r a man t h a t i s to d e s ir y n g e to g e te r ic h e s B e s
ab au n d o n e th hym f i r s t to t h e f t e , and to a l l e o t h e r e
y v e l e s ; / and t h e r f o r e s e i t h Salomon, "He t h a t h a s t e t h hym
to b i s i l y to wexe r i c h e s h a l be noon i n n o c e n t . " . . .
And, s i r e , ye s h u l g e te n r i c h e s s e s by y o u re w it and by
y o u re t r a v a i l l e u n to y o u re p r o f i t j / and t h a t w ith o u te n
wrong o r harm doynge to any o o t h e r p e r s o n e . ’ ( V I I . 1576-
1582)
T urn in g now to t h e Monk's t a l e and w orking tow ard th e
iend o f Fragm ent V I I , we f i n d o u r s e l v e s f a c e d w ith n o t j u s t
a s i n g l e n a r r a t i v e , b u t w ith s e v e n te e n s e p a r a t e " t r a g e d i e s "
!o f v a r i e d q u a l i t y and l e n g t h , u n f o ld e d one by one by th e
I Monk u n t i l th e k n i g h t i n t e r r u p t s him — w ith a v ig o r o u s
'se c o n d by th e H o st. S in c e we have n e i t h e r th e s p a c e — o r
't h e n e e d - - t o compare e a c h o f th e Monk's s t o r i e s to th e
| T ale o f M e lib e e , i t w i l l p r o b a b ly be s u f f i c i e n t to b e g in
i
jw ith a g e n e r a l c o n t r a s t , and b r i n g i n s p e c i f i c p a r a l l e l s
l
jas we go a l o n g .
I The T ale o f M elibee c o n t a i n s an i m p l i c i t d e f i n i t i o n o f
j
|t r a g e d y w hich iB v i r t u a l l y c o m p le te , by m e d ie v a l s t a n d a r d s ,
132
and w hich s ta n d s i n d i r e c t c o n t r a s t to w hat th e Monk i s
t r y i n g to do. T hat th e c o n s o l a t i o h a s a r e l a t i o n to t r a g
edy s h o u ld come a s no s u r p r is e ., i f we w i l l r e c a l l o u r d i s -
i
; c u s s i o n , some c h a p t e r s ago, o f w hat th e c o n s o l a t i o was
i
]d e s ig n e d to do: to d ra m a tiz e th e n e e d — and th e m eans— o f
jm o d e ra tin g th e e x c e s s e s o f human p a s s i o n — th e same p a s s i o n s
l t h a t l e a d to tr a g e d y when l e f t unchecked hy c o n s o l a t i o n ,
c o n s o l a t i o , by i t s v e ry n a t u r e , i s "a tr a g e d y a v e r t e d " —
j a v e r t e d n o t by th e g ra c e o f F o rtu n e b u t by a change i n a
m an's c h a r a c t e r .
J u s t c o n s i d e r how c lo s e th e M elibee i s to becoming a
tr a g e d y , M elibeu s i s "myghty and r i c h e . " H is h o u se h o ld
h a s s u f f e r e d an a t t a c k , and i n a f i t o f w ra th he p ro p o se s
; to d e c l a r e im m ediate war on h i s en em ie s. Would he have
;been s u c c e s s f u l i n t h a t war? In a v e ry p r a c t i c a l s e n se ,
■the answ er i s no. As Dame Prudence p u t s i t :
I 'B ut l a t u s now p u t t e t h a t ye have le v e to venge y o w ./
I se y e ye been n a t o f myght and power a s now to venge
y o w ;/ f o r i f ye wole maken com parisoun u n to th e myght o f
' y o u re a d v e r s a r i e s , ye s h u l fynde i n manye th y n g e s t h a t I
have shewed yow e r t h i s t h a t h i r e c o n d ic io n i s b e t t r e
th a n y o u r e s . / And t h e r f o r e seye I t h a t i t i s good as
now t h a t ye s u f f r e and be p a c i e n t . ' ('VII. 1477-1^80)
Supposing now t h a t M elibeus went r i g h t ah ea d , i n view o f
t h i s " i n t e l l i g e n c e r e p o r t , " made war and was d e f e a t e d ,
would we be j u s t i f i e d i n sa y in g w hat th e Monk would s u r e l y
|
! s a y — t h a t he l o s t b e ca u se " F o rtu n e abandoned him "? The
; answ er i s o b v io u s: th e blame would r e s t on M elib eu s him-
j s e l f . I f t h e r e I s to be any d e te r m i n a ti o n o f e v e n ts b e -
s i d e s t h a t o f m an 's c h a r a c t e r , i t l i e s , as Prudence say s
l a t e r , "in th e wyl and i n th e hand o f o u re Lord God A l-
!myghty" ( V I I . I 6 5 7 ) .
; The p r o g r e s s o f M e lib eu s tow ard a m o d e ra tio n o f h i s ;
iw ra th , and away from tr a g e d y , p r o v i d e s a d i r e c t c o n t r a s t
to th e d i s a s t e r s b ro u g h t a b o u t, o r b ro u g h t upon, many o f
; th e Monk's t r a g i c f i g u r e s , who f a l l n o t sim p ly f o r th e
| a r b i t r a r y re a s o n he a s s i g n s , b u t l a r g e l y b e ca u se th e y
i n e i t h e r u n d e r s t a n d o r m od erate t h e i r p a s s i o n s — o r b e cau se
th e p e o p le aro u n d them c a n n o t c o n t r o l t h e i r s , o r b e c a u se
1
- o f o t h e r f a c t o r s t h a t a r e n o t s t r i c t l y r e l a t e d to F o rtu n e .
.Nero f a l l s b e ca u se h i s p e r s o n a l v i c e s c au se h i s p e o p le to
I h a te him; N ebu ch ad nezzar, B e ls h a z z a r , and A n tio c h u s a re
c u r s e d by God f o r t h e i r s i n s ; Pedro o f S p a in , King P e t e r
o f C yprus, V i s c o n t i , U g o lin o , A le x a n d e r, and C a esar a re
a l l undone by o t h e r s , w ith v a ry in g d e g re e s o f p e r s o n a l 1
I
;r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a s s ig n e d to th e m s e lv e s ; Z enobia and C roesus j
i
I l i v e by th e sw ord, and a s Prudence s t a t e s , "He t h a t l o v e t h
1 i
I p e r i l s h a l f a l l e i n p e r i l " ( V I I . 1 6 7 1); H e r c u le s and Samson i
j a r e d e f e a t e d by women; and th e a c c o u n t o f H o lo f e r n e s can
; |
!h a r d l y be c a l l e d a n y th in g a t a l l b e c a u se i t i s so incom - !
j p l e t e . '
[ ;
I The Monk's two o t h e r a c c o u n ts , L u c i f e r and Adam, a re j
i n t e r e s t i n g b e c a u se h e r e he was f a c e d w ith e x p l a i n i n g t r a g - j
j e d i e s t h a t to o k p l a c e b e f o r e th e F a l l o f Man— t h a t i s , b e - j
I
!f o r e t h e r e was any such th in g a s F o r tu n e , o r i n L u c i f e r 's I
c a se w ith th e f a c t t h a t a n g e ls a r e n o t s u b j e c t to F o rtu n e
! i n th e f i r s t p l a c e , L u c i f e r , he t e l l s u s , f e l l on a c c o u n t
i o f s i n , and Adam b e ca u se o f h i s "m ysgovernaunce" (V II.
| 20 1 2 ). The Monk does n o t seem to r e a l i z e t h a t t h e s e d e -
| f e c t s o f c h a r a c t e r m igh t be c a l l e d th e p rim e c a u s e s o f
| t r a g e d y even a f t e r th e F a l l , o r t h a t a l l o f th e r e s t o f
| h i s s t o r i e s m ight be summed up u n d e r th e s e h e a d in g s a s
w e l l . H is em phasis on F o rtu n e i n th e re m a in d e r o f h i s t a l e
I r e f l e c t s a m is ta k e n o p in io n t h a t a s Boon a s man f e l l . F o r
tu n e became dom inant i n human l i f e * T h is i s what g i v e s th e
; Monk h i s c o m p le te ly gloomy o u tlo o k on l i f e , and t h i s i s
; w hat makes him a v e ry bad g u id e to c o n d u c t— a s compared to
; Dame P ru d e n c e — i n s p i t e o f a l l o f h i s "ensam ples" and
; " p r o v e r b e s ."
H is u s e o f th e word "m ysgovernaunce" i s im p o r ta n t i n
a n o th e r r e s p e c t . I t I s s u r e l y in a d e q u a te to g l o s s i t sim -
; p l y a s " m is c o n d u c t," a s R obinson d o e s. The word "govern"
! i s u s e d e x t e n s i v e l y i n th e T ale o f M elibee to r e f e r to th e
| c o n t r o l one sh o u ld l e a r n to e x e r c i s e o v e r e v e n ts and p a s -
| s i o n s , b o th In o n e s e l f and i n o t h e r s ! " ’Now, s i r e , ' quod
I dame P ru d e n ce , ’and syn ye vouche s a u f to been g o v e rn e d by
j
| my c o n s e i l , I wol enform e yow how ye s h u l govern e y o u r s e l f
| i n chesynge o f y o u re c o n s e l l l o u r s ,! "" (V II. 1115) • "How ye
s h u l g o verne y o u r s e l f " — t h i s i s what M e lib eu s f i n a l l y
| l e a r n s to do, w ith r e s p e c t to h i s e x c e s s o f w r a th . The
ic h o o s in g o f c o u n s e l l o r s i s j u s t one s t e p I n a long p r o c e s s .
135
j The p h r a s e i t s e l f m ig h t s ta n d a s th e aim o f e v e r y con-
| s o l a t i o .
1 !
| The Monk, i t w ould a p p e a r, h a s n o t l e a r n e d much by j
I l i s t e n i n g to the T a le o f M e lib e e . I t i s te m p tin g to s u r -
I r „ r - r- r r
!m ise t h a t h e , l i k e many a modern r e a d e r , h a s found h i m s e l f i
do zin g th ro u g h t h i s s e c t i o n o f th e C a n te rb u ry T a l e s . I n ;
h i s t h i r d t a l e we f i n d him u s i n g th e f a l l o f Samson to
| p ro v e t h a t no men s h o u ld " t e l l e h i r c o n s e i l t i l h i r wyves"
‘ ( V I I . 2 0 9 2) . The b e s t we can say o f th e M onk's ig n o ra n c e
: i s t h a t f o r t u n a t e l y i t i s a p a r t o f h i s charm.
; We come now to th e N u n 's P r i e s t ' s t a l e , th e f i n a l ;
; t a l e o f Fragm ent V I I . As A lan G ay lo rd h a s s a i d , i t i s a
I t a l e in w hich "many o f th e them es o f e a r l i e r t a l e s a re s e t
I i n t o f i n a l o r d e r " ( "S en ten c e and S o l a a s , " p . 2 3 3 ) J and
i th o s e o f t h e M elibee a re no e x c e p ti o n . We have a l r e a d y
|
| made r e f e r e n c e to t h e N un's P r i e s t ' s condem nation o f worn- ;
I a n ' s a d v ic e i n o u r c h a p t e r on m a s te ry :
j ‘ 1
Wommennes c o n s e i l s been f u l o f t e c o ld e ; |
; Wommannes c o n s e i l b r o g h te u s f i r s t to wo,
I And made Adam f r o P a rad y s to go . . . |
I ( v i i . 3 2 5 6- 3 2 5 8) ;
I T h is i s t h e same b ra n d o f a n t i - f e m i n i s m a s t h a t j u s t n o te d I
I . !
I above i n c o n n e c tio n w ith th e Monk's t a l e , W. W. Lawrence ;
i :
I c i t e s t h i s p a ssa g e a s e v id e n c e t h a t th e N u n 's P r i e s t ' s t a l e ;
1 ■ I
i s aimed d i r e c t l y b a ck a t th e M e lib e e :
I I t lo o k s as I f Chaucer had b ro u g h t him ( th e Nun' b j
I P r i e s t ) fo rw ard a t t h i s p o i n t i n o r d e r to p r o v id e a j
c o u n t e r b l a s t to th e e x a l t a t i o n o f woman i n th e M e lib e u s . j
. . . The whole p o i n t o f h i s s t o r y i s t h a t a husband who
136!
• f o llo w s th e a d v ic e o f h i s w ife w i l l come to g r i e f — j u s t
th e r e v e r s e o f th e m o ral o f th e M e lib e u s . (C haucer and
th e C a n te rb u ry T a l e s , pp . 134-135")
| Lawrence i s p r o b a b ly g o in g too f a r h e r e , b u t a t l e a s t i t
: i s i n th e r i g h t d i r e c t i o n . As C h a r le s A. Owen., J r . , h a s
I p o i n t e d o u t , C h a u n t e c l e e r 's m is e ry comes a b o u t n o t b e c a u se i
! he f o llo w s h i s w i f e ' s a d v ic e , b u t b e c a u se he n e g l e c t s to
•3
; fo llo w h i s own. He h a s had a d i s t u r b i n g dream i n w hich
* an a n im a l p o s e s a t h r e a t to him. The d e s c r i p t i o n he g i v e s ,
i l a t e r to h i s w i f e , P e r t e l o t e , i s c l e a r l y t h a t o f a f o x —
b u t th e cock f a i l s to draw th e o b v io u s c o n c l u s i o n . I t i s
: t r u e t h a t P e r t e l o t e c h id e s h e r hu sb an d f o r b e in g so a f r a i d ■
o f a mere dream , and s a y s t h a t dream s a r e o n ly th e r e s u l t
o f an im b a lan c e o f hum ours— a d v is e s him to ta k e a l a x a t i v e .
But C h a u n te c le e r d o e s n 't ta k e t h i s " a d v i c e ." I n s t e a d , he
la u n c h e s i n t o a long d e fe n s e o f th e t r u t h o f dream s, c o n - j
e lu d e s t h a t he i s g o in g to have some " a d v e r s i t e e " — a g a in
f a i l i n g to be c o n c e rn e d o v e r s p e c i f i c s — and w ith t h a t r e - i
; t u r n s to th e b a r n y a r d jo y s p r o v id e d by h i s seven h e n s — j
! f o r g e t t i n g e v e r y t h in g u n t i l one d ay, i n h i s p e c k in g s , he I
i i
| comes upon a l u r k i n g " c o l - f o x . " On th e q u e s t io n o f th e j
I i
I v a lu e o f woman's a d v i c e , th e n , t h e r e i s a n o th e r t u r n o f j
I ' |
| th e screw , so to sp e a k , i n th e N u n 's P r i e s t ' s t a l e ; and \
| :
] ;
^"The C r u c i a l P a s s a g e s i n F iv e o f The C a n te rb u ry
T a l e s : A S tudy i n I r o n y and Sym bol," JEGP, L I I (1 9 5 3J j
29 4-311. R e p r in t e d i n Edward W agenknecht, e d . , C h a u c e r:
Modernfr-Essays i n C r i t i c i s m (New Y ork, 1959) j PP. 25 1-270.
See e s p e c i a l l y p p . 2 6 4 f f ,
th e c o n t r a s t w ith th e T a le o f M elibee i s i r o n i c a l l y o b
l i q u e r a t h e r th a n d i r e c t on t h i s p o i n t .
The "whole p o i n t " o f th e N un's P r i e s t s T ale l i e s
i beyond o u r means and o u r p u rp o s e s h e r e ; b u t two m ajo r
| th em es— d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d to th e M e lib e e - - a r e summarized
| by th e c h a r a c t e r s them selv es* and by th e N u n 's P r i e s t * a t
; th e end o f th e t a le * a f t e r C h a u n te c le e r h a s e sc a p e d th e
! jaws o f th e fox and h a s flow n h ig h i n t o a t r e e :
'Nay th a n n e * T quod he [C h a u n te c le e r]* ' I shrewe u s j
b o th e two. !
And f i r s t I shrewe m yself* b o th e b lo o d and bones*
I f thou b i g y l e me o f t e r th a n o n e s.
Thou s h a l t namoore* th u r g h th y f l a t e r y e *
Do me to synge and wynke w ith wyn ye;
F or he t h a t w ynketh, whan he sh o ld e see*
A1 w i l f u l l y * God l a t him n e v e re t h e e l 1
'N ay * ' quod th e fox* 'b u t God yeve hym meschaunce*
T h at i s so u n d i s c r e e t o f gov ernaun ce
T hat j a n g l e t h whan he sh o ld e h o ld e h i s p e e s . '
( V I I . 3^26-3435) !
. A ccording to th e c h a r a c t e r s th em selv es* t h e i r m i s e r i e s
r e s u l t e d from f l a t t e r y and m is g o v e rn a n c e . The N u n's P r i e s t ’
: c o n c u r s — "Lo* sw ich i t i s f o r to be r e e c h e l e e s / And n e c l i - i
I gent* and t r u s t e on f l a t e r y e " ( V I I .3 ^ 3 6 -3 ^ 3 7 ). At an
: e a r l i e r p o i n t i n th e t a l e he even i n t e r r u p t s th e n a r r a t i v e ;
j to d e l i v e r t h i s w a rn in g : j
| A lla s J ye lo rd e s * many a f a l s f l a t o u r !
I s i n y o u re c o u rte s * and many a l o s e n g e o u r , I
i T hat p l e s e n yow w el moore* by my f e i t h *
I Than he t h a t s o o t h f a s t n e s s e u n to yow s e i t h , j
1 R ed eth E c c l e s i a s t e o f f l a t e r y e ;
1 B eth war* ye lo rd e s * o f h i r t r e c h e r y e . !
■ ( v i i . 3325-3330) I
............................................. ' 138;
"R edeth E c c l e s i a s t e " — t h i s i s j u s t what Dame Pru dence so
o f t e n a d v i s e s j and a s we t r i e d to show i n o u r d i s c u s s i o n
j o f th e S hip m an 's ta le ., th e d a n g e rs o f f l a t t e r y a re among ;
I h e r c h i e f c o n c e rn s — "Salomon s e i t h t h a t 't h e w ordes o f a
i
! f l a t e r e r e i s a s n a re to cacche w ith i n n o c e n t z '" ( V I I - 1 1 7 8 ) : I
I "The hook s e i t h , 'Thou s h a l t r a t h e r d red e and f l e e f r o th e j
i !
js w e e te w ordes o f f l a t e r y n g e p r e i s e r e s th a n f r o th e e g re
!w ordes o f th y f r e e n d t h a t s e i t h th e e th y s o t h e s '" (V II.
11177). The p a r a l l e l h e re i s a b s o l u t e l y d i r e c t . In th e
t a l e i t s e l f , th e fox o v e r p r a i s e s C h a u n t e c l e e r ' s v o i c e - -
I f l a t t e r s him i n t o s t r e t c h i n g f o r t h h i s n eck and c l o s i n g I
h i s e y e s to crow.
The f o x ' s c u rs e on th o s e who a r e " u n d i s c r e e t o f g o v e r-:
: naunce" i s a more g e n e r a l , b u t i n many ways a more s i g n i f i -
; c a n t , p a r a l l e l to th e T ale o f M elibee and to much t h a t we
!have been d i s c u s s i n g i n t h i s c h a p t e r . As we s a i d b e f o r e ,
I j
; one o f th e p rim a ry aim s o f th e c o n s o l a t i o , and hence th e |
; • j
I T a le o f M e lib e e , i s to d e s c r i b e "how y e s h u l g o v e r n e y o u r - i
! s e l f " — how th e p a s s i o n s a r e to be m o d era te d and d i r e c t e d
i !
:by th e re a s o n i n o r d e r to a v e r t d i s a s t e r i n th e a f f a i r s o f |
l i f e . C h a u n te c le e r , w ith h i s harem and h i s o p u l e n t |
f e a t h e r i n g , i s — l i k e M e lib e u s — "a man t h a t d ry n k e th h o n y " — j
id ru nken w ith th e d e l i g h t s o f th e w o rld , and too d i s t r a c t e d
i
■ by p a sB io n to know how to r e a c t t o d a n g e r s . C h a u n t e c le e r ' sj
i ' !
; f a l l i s th e r e s u l t o f a c o m b in atio n o f t h i n g s — bad c o u n s e l, |
! ■ !
ibad i n c l i n a t i o n s , f o r g e t f u l n e s s , p r i d e , f l a t t e r y , and so !
o n —b u t t h e s e can a l l be summed up u n d e r th e h e a d in g o f
m ls g o v e rn a n c e * a c o n c e p t which m ig h t w e l l be th e g e n e r a l
t
| c o n t r o l l i n g and o r g a n iz in g p r i n c i p l e i n a l l o f Fragm ent
| V I I . T h is p o s s i b i l i t y would a g re e v e ry w e ll w ith Alan Gay-
| l o r d ' s t h e s i s t h a t Fragm ent V II i s p a r t l y h e ld t o g e t h e r by
|H a r r y B a i l l y a c t i n g as "h o rse b a c k e d i t o r , " c a l l i n g f o r
i
! c e r t a i n k in d s o f t a l e s , and i n t e r r u p t i n g and commenting
iupon them . I n th e G e n era l P ro lo g u e th e p i l g r i m s t a t e s t h a t
i H a rry was chosen to "been o u re g o v e r n o u r , / And o f oure
t a l e s ju g e and r e p o r t o u r " ( I . 8 1 3 -8 1 4 ). I t seems r a t h e r
■ l i k e l y from o u r d i s c u s s i o n h e re t h a t w h ile H arry i s e n
gaged i n t r y i n g to "govern" th e t e l l e r s and t a l e s , th e
t a l e s th e m s e lv e s a r e commenting i n v a r i o u s ways on how
; H a rry , th e p i l g r i m s , and a l l o f u s s h o u ld govern o u r s e l v e s .
I The o v e r a l l theme o f th e T ale o f M elibee, s e l f - c o n t r o l ,
; s ta n d s i n s h a rp c o n t r a s t to th e s e l f - i n d u l g e n c e t h a t c h a r -
| a c t e r i z e s a lm o st a l l th e o t h e r t a l e s i n Fragm ent V I I .
W hatever th e l a r g e r s i g n i f i c a n c e o f Fragm ent V II
m igh t b e , t h e r e sh o u ld be no d o u b t now t h a t th e T a le o f
i M elibee f i g u r e s l a r g e l y In I t . At th e v e ry l e a s t , we have
| d e m o n s tra te d t h a t th e M elibee I s an i n t e g r a l p a r t o f th e
i
j s t r u c t u r e o f th e fra g m e n t. Alm ost a l l o f th e them es o f
l
l th e o th e r t a l e s f in d a p a r a l l e l In th e M elibee. Since th e
i '
i
i M elibee i s I n p r o s e , i t s d i s c u s s i o n s o f v engeance, c o u n s e l,
! th e w orth o f women, and th e use o f r i c h e s , are so s t r a i g h t -
| forw ard t h a t I t f i n a l l y g iv e s th e Im pression o f being a
i4oj
k i n d o f c e n t r a l commentary on th e o t h e r t a l e s * a p l a c e
•where th e i s s u e s a r e u n r a v e l e d from t h e i r e l a b o r a t e p o e t i c :
| and r h e t o r i c a l c o n te x ts * where th e y a r e s t a t e d e x p l i c i t l y i
! ;
j
| and u n m is ta k a b ly so t h a t we m ig h t r e a d and r e - r e a d th e
r e s t o f th e fra g m e n t w ith more a c c u ra c y and com p reh en sio n , j
i ,
| R alp h Baldw in h a s shown how t h e P a r s o n 1s T a le a c t s a s a
4
I commentary on th e C a n te rb u ry 'Tales a s a w hole. I b e l i e v e
| we c o u ld say t h a t th e T ale o f M e lib e e * th e o n ly o t h e r p ro se ;
t a l e i n th e work* p e rfo rm s a somewhat an alo g o u s f u n c t i o n
w i t h r e s p e c t to Fragm ent V I I . The way i n w hich th e M e lib e e ;
i f u n c t i o n s a ls o s u g g e s t s t h a t Chaucer was f a r s i g h t e d enough ;
; to p r o v id e k ey s to th e r e a d i n g o f h i s t a l e s r i g h t among
th e t a l e s th e m s e lv e s . I t i s no e x a g g e r a t io n to say t h a t
' th e C a n te rb u ry T a le s c a r r i e s m ost o f i t s e s s e n t i a l commen- ;
I t a r y r i g h t w ith i t . So much more can be g a in e d from F ra g - i
; ment VII* f o r example* j u s t by r e a d in g a l l o f Fragm ent
i *
| V I I '- - i n s t e a d o f m e re ly r e a d in g th e P r i o r e s s ’ and th e Nun’s
! P r i e s t ' s t a l e s and th e n r e t r e a t i n g to th e j o u r n a l s . Our i
d i s c u s s i o n o f th e T a le o f M elibee i n t h i s c h a p t e r demon-
| s t r a t e s t h a t th e an sw ers to many q u e s t i o n s a r e r i g h t i n I
I th e t e x t , i
| |
| ;
i
j ^The U n ity o f th e C a n te rb u ry T ales* V ( Copenhagen * j
i 1 9 5 5 ). S e l e c t i o n s r e p r i n t e d i n C haucer C r i t i c i s m : The
| C a n te rb u ry T a le s ( N o tre Dame * In d ian a * i 960 )* p p , 14-49.
I See e s p e c i a l l y p p . 37 -4 9 .
CHAPTER VI
CONCLUSIONS
We have seen t h a t i n th e p a s t C h a u c e r 's T a le o f M e li-
;bee was th o u g h t to be e i t h e r a sop to m e d ie v a l t a s t e , o r
:an ep itom e o f d u l l n e s s w hich Chaucer th e p i l g r i m r e c i t e s
i n re v e n g e f o r h a v in g been c u t o f f i n h i s T ale o f S i r
T h o p a s. S in ce a b o u t 19^0, how ever, th e M elibee h a s come
i to be t r e a t e d a s a s e r i o u s p i e c e o f m o ra l p h ilo s o p h y w hich
h a s a complex f u n c t i o n in th e C a n te rb u ry T a l e s . In t h i s
: s tu d y , we have l i m i t e d o u r s e l v e s to a p r e c i s e d e s c r i p t i o n
o f t h a t f u n c t i o n i n Fragm ent V I I.
The T ale o f M e lib e e , a s i t s L a tin t i t l e , L ib e r Con-
s o l a t i o n i s e t C o n s i l i i , i n d i c a t e s , i s a c o n s o l a t i o — a c l a s
s i c a l l i t e r a r y form d e s ig n e d to cu re th e d i s e a s e s o f th e
s o u l th ro u g h an a p p e a l to th e r e a s o n . The M e lib e e 1s c l o s
e s t a n a lo g u e i s B o e t h i u s ' C o n s o la tio n o f P h ilo s o p h y . Boe-
| t h i u s augm ented th e t r a d i t i o n a l c o n s o l a t i o by ad d in g
i
i S o c r a t i c d i a l e c t i c and a f u l l d ra m a tic c o n te x t w hich f e a -
! t u r e s a sym bolic " la d y o f p h i lo s o p h y " — b o th o f w hich a r e
| fo u n d i n th e L ib e r C o n s o l a t i o n i s . The T a le o f M elibee i s
; n o t an a l l e g o r y ; i t i s a c o n s o l a t i o s p e c i f i c a l l y d e s ig n e d
to c u re an e x c e s s o f w ra th and to prom ote th e C h r i s t i a n j
| v i r t u e o f f o r g i v e n e s s ,
i !
The T a le o f M elibee does n o t te a c h t h a t a w ife sh o u ld j
I
have m a s te ry o v e r h e r h usband i n m a r r ia g e . I t s view s on j
! |
i m a rr ia g e a r e d i r e c t l y opposed to th o s e o f th e Wife o f B a th .j
| !
! Dame P r u d e n c e ’s e f f o r t s to p e rs u a d e h e r h usban d to f o r g i v e !
i !
i ;
; h i s enem ies do n o t e x ce ed th e bounds o f C h r i s t i a n m a r i t a l
decorum a s d e f i n e d by th e m a j o r i t y o f M edieval t h e o l o g i a n s ;
j and w r i t e r s on d o m estic c o n d u c t. P rudence i s c a r e f u l to
■ appeal o n ly to h e r h u s b a n d ’ s r e a s o n and to le a v e h i s w i l l
! I
I e n t i r e l y f r e e . I t i s o n ly M elib eu s who o f f e r s to su b m it, ;
and h i s o f f e r i s c o n s i s t e n t l y i g n o r e d . Dame Pru dence b e -
: lo n g s to a t r a d i t i o n o f "w ise w iv e s" who, l i k e E s t h e r i n
; th e B i b l e , a r e j u s t i f i e d i n i n f l u e n c i n g t h e i r h u sb an d s a t
I ■ i
; tim e s o f extrem e c r i s i s when r e l i g i o u s p r i n c i p l e s a r e a t j
i ;
| s t a k e , and when th e husband c l e a r l y la c k s u n d e r s ta n d in g o f ;
; h i s s i t u a t i o n . !
i i
; !
As p a r t o f th e p e rfo rm a n c e o f C haucer th e p i l g r i m ,
th e T a le o f M elibee f u n c t i o n s as a complement to S i r j
; T h o p a s. B oth S i r Thopas and M e lib eu s a r e p ro n e to e x c e s -
j
I s i v e w ra th and v e n g e a n c e - ta k in g , and b o th have a low e s -
j t im a te o f th e w o rth o f woman., Though c u t o f f by th e H o st,
! C haucer th e p i l g r i m i n th e T a le o f M elibee manages to com-
I “
i p l e t e h i s p o i n t s a b o u t th e e v i l s t h a t f o llo w w a r f a r e and
| h a s t y v e n g ea n ce , th e v a lu e o f woman a s c o u n s e lo r , and th e
: b l e s s i n g s t h a t a t t e n d f o r g i v e n e s s . Though t o t a l l y d i f -
f e r e n t i n kind* b o th t a l e s c o n t a i n e s s e n t i a l l y s i m i l a r
m eaning s.
In Fragm ent V I I , th e T a le o f M elibee p e rfo rm s a v a r i
e t y o f f u n c t i o n s . P r u d e n c e 1s view s on a v a r i c e and w icked
c o u n s e l o r s a r e d ra m a tiz e d i n th e Shipm an1s T a l e . The o u t
r a g e a g a i n s t th e Jews i n th e P r i o r e s s ’s T a le i s condemned
by a s ta te m e n t P rudence makes on th e n e c e s s i t y o f r e s t r a i n t
i n m a t t e r s o f s e l f - d e f e n s e . The T ale o f M elibee c o n ta in s
an im p lie d t h e o r y o f tr a g e d y opposed to t h a t o f th e Monk*
and view s on m isg o v ern an ce and f l a t t e r y s i m i l a r to th o s e
fo und i n th e Nun’s P r i e s t ’s T a l e . But., a s s t a t e d b e f o r e ,
th e g e n e r a l theme o f th e M e lib e e , s e l f - c o n t r o l , s ta n d s i n
sh a rp c o n t r a s t to th e s e l f - i n d u l g e n c e t h a t u n d e r l i e s th e
t a l e s o f Fragm ent V I I .
i
L I S T OF WORKS C I T E D
t
i
i
i
j
i
144 !
LIST OF W O RK S CITED
A l b e r t a n i B r i x i e n s i s . L i b e r C o n s o l a t i o n i s e t C o n s i l i i , ed.j
T hor Sundby. London', 1873 • ( Chau c e r S o c i e t y , S e r i e s
I I , No. 8)
I A quinas, S a i n t Thomas, B a s ic W r i t i n g s , e d . Anton C. P e g i s .;
2 v o l s , New York: Random House, 1945.
A u g u s tin e , S a i n t , B a sic W r i t in g s o f S a i n t A u g u s tin e , e d ,
W hitn ey J , O a t e s , New' York: Random House, 1948’. I
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Creator Christmas, Robert Alan (author)

Core Title Chaucer'S 'Tale Of Melibee': Its Tradition And Its Function In Fragment Vii Of The 'Canterbury Tales'

Degree Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Program English

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag Literature, General,OAI-PMH Harvest

Language English

Contributor Digitized by ProQuest (provenance)

Advisor Mahl, Mary R. (committee chair), Berkey, Max Leslie, Jr. (committee member), Brown, William H., Jr. (committee member)

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c18-642923

Unique identifier UC11360936

Identifier 6904521.pdf (filename),usctheses-c18-642923 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier 6904521.pdf

Dmrecord 642923

Document Type Dissertation

Rights Christmas, Robert Alan

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the au...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

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