Wife of Bath

Middle English:

For hadde God comanded maydenhede,
Thanne hadde he dampned weddyng with the dede.
And certes, if ther were no seed ysowe,
Virginitee, thanne wherof sholde it growe?


Modern Translation:


For had God commanded maidenhood,
Then had he damned marriage along with the act (of procreation).
And certainly, if there were no seed sown,
Then from what should virginity grow?