Chaucer's Retraction
Here taketh the makere of this book his leve.
Now preye I to hem alle that herkne this litel tretis or rede, that if ther be any thing in it that lyketh hem, that ther-of they thanken oure lord Iesu Crist, of whom procedeth al wit and al goodnesse. And if ther be any thing that displese hem, I preye hem also that they arrette it to the defaute of myn unconninge, and nat to my wil, that wolde ful fayn have seyd bettre if I hadde had conninge. For oure boke seith, ‘al that is writen is writen for oure doctrine’; and that is myn entente. Wherfore I biseke yow mekely for the mercy of god, that ye preye for me, that Crist have mercy on me and foryeve me my giltes: —and namely, of my translacions and endytinges of worldly vanitees, the whiche I revoke in my retracciouns: as is the book of Troilus; The book also of Fame; The book of the nynetene Ladies; The book of the Duchesse; The book of seint Valentynes day of the Parlement of Briddes; The tales of Caunterbury, thilke that sounen in-to sinne; The book of the Leoun; and many another book, if they were in my remembrance; and many a song and many a lecherous lay; that Crist for his grete mercy foryeve me the sinne. But of the translacion of Boece de Consolacione, and othere bokes of Legendes of seintes, and omelies, and moralitee, and devocioun, that thanke I oure lord Iesu Crist and his blisful moder, and alle the seintes of hevene; bisekinge hem that they from hennes-forth, un-to my lyves ende, sende me grace to biwayle my giltes, and to studie to the salvacioun of my soule:—and graunte me grace of verray penitence, confessioun and satisfaccioun to doon in this present lyf; thurgh the benigne grace of him that is king of kinges and preest over alle preestes, that boghte us with the precious blood of his herte; so that I may been oon of hem at the day of dome that shulle be saved: Qui cum patre, &c.
Here taketh the maker of this book his leave.
Now pray I to ’em all that harken this little treatise or rede, that if there be any thing in it that liketh ’em, that thereof they thanketh our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom proceedeth all wit and all goodness. And if there be anything that displease ’em, I pray ’em also that they aret it to the default of mine uncunning, and not to my will, that would full fain have said better if I had had cunning. For our book saith, ‘all that is written is written for our doctrine,’ and that is mine intent. Wherefore I beseech you meekly for the mercy of god, that you pray for me, that Christ have mercy on me and forgive me my guilts;— and namely, of my translations and inditings of worldly vanities, the which I revoke in my retractions: as is the book of Troilus; the book also of Fame; the book of the nineteen Ladies; the book of the Duchess; the book of saint Valentine’s day of the Parliament of Birds, the tales of Canterbury, thilk that sounden into sin; The book of the Lion; and many another book, if they were in my remembrance; and many a song and many a lecherous lay; that Christ for his great mercy forgive me the sin. But of the translation of Boece de Consolatione, and other books of Legends of saints, and homilies, and morality, and devotion, that thank I our lord Jesus Christ and his blissful mother, and all the saints of heaven; beseeching ’em that they from hence forth, unto my life’s end, send me grace to bewail my guilts, and to study to the salvation of my soul;—and grant me grace of very penitence, confession and satisfaction to do in this present life; through the benign grace of him that is king of kings and priest over all priests, that bought us with the precious blood of his heart, so that I may be one of ’em at the day of doom that shall be saved: Qui cum patre &c.
