The Canterbury Tales: The Wife of Bath's Prologue Lines 437-456 Summary

  • (The Wife again begins to re-enact how she spoke to her husbands.)
  • Then I would say, look at how meek our sheep Wilkyn is.
  • Come close, let me kiss you!
  • You should be all patient, meek, and be good-natured. You always talk about Job's patience; imitate him, since you do such a good job of preaching about him.
  • Unless you do that, you will learn from experience that it is better to have peace with your wife.
  • One of the two of us has to give in, and since a man is more reasonable than a woman, it should be you.
  • What's wrong with you; why do you complain? Is it just because you want to have sex with me? Go ahead, have as much sex as you want!
  • My, you're fond of sex!
  • If I sold my body, I would get a lot of money. Instead, I keep it all for you.