Vignette: The Wife’s St. Paul Elizabeth Weckhurst

“Ne I wolde nat of hym corrected be.” (l.661) Experience versus Authority

“beten for a book” Le Roman de la Rose. Bibliothèque St. Geneviève, Paris.

Janekyn’s Book of Wikked Wyves Eve ruins things for Adam (and everyone) Dalila betrays Samson (by cutting off his hair) Socrates’ wife Xanthippe pours piss over his head Deianira gives Hercules a poisoned shirt Queen Pasiphae has sex with a bull, then gives birth to the minotaur Clytemnestra murders Agamemnon Livia poisons Augustus (and others)

“Experience, though noon auctoritee Were in this world, were right ynogh to me To speke of wo that is in mariage.” (ll. 1-3)

“Experience, though noon auctoritee Were in this world, were right ynogh to me To speke of wo that is in mariage.” (ll. 1-3) But then she proceeds to cite… St. Jerome, Adversus Jovinianum John 2:1 John 4:6, 18 1 Corinthians 7:30 1 Kings 11 1 Corinthians 7:28 1 Corinthians 7:9 Genesis 4: Corinthians 7:25 Romans 15:18 1 Corinthians 9:24 1 Corinthians 7:7 1 Corinthians 7:6 2 Timothy 2:20 1 Corinthians 12:4 Revelations 14:3-4 Matthew 19:21 John 6:9 1 Corinthians 7:4 Ephesians 5:22 Colossians 3:19 1 Corinthians 7:4 Ephesians 7:25 1 Timothy 2:9 And so on...

“Experience, though noon auctoritee Were in this world, were right ynogh to me To speke of wo that is in mariage.” (ll. 1-3) Paul’s Epistles predominate… St. Jerome, Adversus Joviniamum John 2:1 John 4:6, 18 1 Corinthians 7:30 1 Kings 11 1 Corinthians 7:28 1 Corinthians 7:9 Genesis 4: Corinthians 7:25 Romans 15:18 1 Corinthians 9:24 1 Corinthians 7:7 1 Corinthians 7:6 2 Timothy 2:20 1 Corinthians 12:4 Revelations 14:3-4 Matthew 19:21 John 6:9 1 Corinthians 7:4 Ephesians 5:22 Colossians 3:19 1 Corinthians 7:4 Ephesians 7:25 1 Timothy 2:9

Paul on marriage (1 Cor. 7) 1 But of those things that ye have written to me, it is good to a man to touch not a woman. 2 But for fornication each man have his own wife, and each woman have her own husband. 3 The husband yield debt to the wife, and also the wife to the husband. 4 The woman hath not power of her body, but the husband; and the husband hath not power of his body, but the woman. 5 Do not ye defraud each to other, but peradventure of consent for a time, that ye give attention to prayer; and again turn again to the same thing, lest Satan tempt you for your uncontinence. 6 But I say this thing as giving leave, not by commandment. 7 For I will, that all men be as myself. But each man hath his proper gift of God; one thus, and another thus. 8 But I say to them, that be not wedded, and to widows, it is good to them, if they dwell so as I. 9 And if they contain not themselves, be they wedded; for it is better to be wedded, than to be burnt. (fr. the Wycliffe translation)

Paul on marriage (1 Cor. 7) 1 But of those things that ye have written to me, it is good to a man to touch not a woman. 2 But for fornication each man have his own wife, and each woman have her own husband. 3 The husband yield debt to the wife, and also the wife to the husband. 4 The woman hath not power of her body, but the husband; and the husband hath not power of his body, but the woman. 5 Do not ye defraud each to other, but peradventure of consent for a time, that ye give attention to prayer; and again turn again to the same thing, lest Satan tempt you for your uncontinence. 6 But I say this thing as giving leave, not by commandment. 7 For I will, that all men be as myself. But each man hath his proper gift of God; one thus, and another thus. 8 But I say to them, that be not wedded, and to widows, it is good to them, if they dwell so as I. 9 And if they contain not themselves, be they wedded; for it is better to be wedded, than to be burnt. (fr. the Wycliffe translation)

“Myn housbounde shal it have both eve and morwe. Whan that hym list com forth and paye his dette. An housbonde I wol have, I nyl nat lette, Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral And have his tribulacioun withal Upon his flessh whil I am his wyf. I have the power durynge al my lyf Upon his propre body and noght he. Right thus the apostel tolde it unto me And bad oure housbondes for to love us weel. Al this sentence me liketh every deel.” (ll )

“Myn housbounde shal it have both eve and morwe. Whan that hym list com forth and paye his dette. An housbonde I wol have, I nyl nat lette, Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral And have his tribulacioun withal Upon his flessh whil I am his wyf. I have the power durynge al my lyf Upon his propre body and noght he. Right thus the apostel tolde it unto me And bad oure housbondes for to love us weel. Al this sentence me liketh every deel.” (ll ) ***1 Cor. 7:3-4: 3 The husband yield debt to the wife, and also the wife to the husband. 4 The woman hath not power of her body, but the husband; and the husband hath not power of his body, but the woman.

“Myn housbounde shal it have both eve and morwe. Whan that hym list com forth and paye his dette. An housbonde I wol have, I nyl nat lette, Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral And have his tribulacioun withal Upon his flessh whil I am his wyf. I have the power durynge al my lyf Upon his propre body and noght he. Right thus the apostel tolde it unto me And bad oure housbondes for to love us weel. Al this sentence me liketh every deel.” (ll ) ***1 Cor. 7:3-4: 3 The husband yield debt to the wife, and also the wife to the husband. 4 The woman hath not power of her body, but the husband; and the husband hath not power of his body, but the woman.

“Ne I wolde nat of hym corrected be.” (l.661) Experience versus Authority (?)