The Tale of Melibee

This is the story of a young  man, named Melibee, who was very rich and known in his town. Melibee had a wife, named Prudence, and a daughter, named Sophie. Prudence was smart and clever, and was also very cultured.

One day, Melibee took a walk into the fields, leaving his wife and his daughter locked in the house, with the door shut fast.

Three of his old enemies saw it, and, setting ladders to the wall of his house, entered, beating his wife, and giving his daughter mortal wounds in five places: in her feet, in here handes, in her eyes, in her nose, and in hir mouth.

When Melibee returned and saw what had happened, he was like a madman, tearing his clothes, weeping and crying. Prudence, his wife, stopped his tears, and gave him a lot of advices, relying on a large number of classical and Biblical authorities, most of whom were typically well-known in Chaucer’s time.

Prudence eventually advised him to call a group of people to come to him, to explain to them what had happened, and listen to their counsel.

Melibee does this, gathering most of the townsfolk in his house to advise him. The advice typically falls into two groups: the surgeons, physicians, lawyers, and old people tell Melibee to be cautious, while the neighbors and young people tell Melibee to launch an attack on his enemies immediately.

Melibee does this, gathering most of the townsfolk in his house to advise him. The advice typically falls into two groups: the surgeons, physicians, lawyers, and old people tell Melibee to be cautious, while the neighbors and young people tell Melibee to launch an attack on his enemies immediately.

Melibee wants to wage war, so Prudence tells Melibee that he should choose his counselors carefully, and to set their advice against their motives. Prudence then goes through all of the advice that Melibee has been given and shows him that open war is not a good option, for a variety of moral, ethical, and practical reasons.

Prudence interprets the attack on Sophie as the damage done to her because of man’s vulnerability to the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. Her remedy: negotiate peace and leave all to God’s grace and forgiveness.

The three enemies who have performed the deed are found and brought before Prudence, who suggests forgiving them; Melibee again argues for a fine, which she again argues him out of. Melibee forgives them, and, delighted with himself, praises at length his own generosity.

work made by Michele Cardinali