Vignette: The Wife’s St. Paul Elizabeth Weckhurst

Vignette: The Wife’s St. PaulElizabeth Weckhurst

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

Experience versusAuthority

“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 auctoriteeWere in this world, were right ynogh to meTo speke of wo that is in mariage.” (ll. 1-3)

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

But then sheproceeds to cite…

St. Jerome, Adversus Jovinianum John 2:1John 4:6, 181 Corinthians 7:301 Kings 111 Corinthians 7:281 Corinthians 7:9Genesis 4:19-23

1 Corinthians 7:25Romans 15:181 Corinthians 9:241 Corinthians 7:71 Corinthians 7:62 Timothy 2:201 Corinthians 12:4Revelations 14:3-4Matthew 19:21

John 6:91 Corinthians 7:4Ephesians 5:22Colossians 3:191 Corinthians 7:4Ephesians 7:251 Timothy 2:9

And so on...

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

Paul’s Epistles predominate…

St. Jerome, Adversus Joviniamum John 2:1John 4:6, 181 Corinthians 7:301 Kings 111 Corinthians 7:281 Corinthians 7:9Genesis 4:19-23

1 Corinthians 7:25Romans 15:181 Corinthians 9:241 Corinthians 7:71 Corinthians 7:62 Timothy 2:201 Corinthians 12:4Revelations 14:3-4Matthew 19:21

John 6:91 Corinthians 7:4Ephesians 5:22Colossians 3:191 Corinthians 7:4Ephesians 7:251 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 thralAnd have his tribulacioun withalUpon 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 meAnd bad oure housbondes for to love us weel.Al this sentence me liketh every deel.” (ll. 152-162)

“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 thralAnd have his tribulacioun withalUpon 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 meAnd bad oure housbondes for to love us weel.Al this sentence me liketh every deel.” (ll. 152-162)

***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 thralAnd have his tribulacioun withalUpon 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 meAnd bad oure housbondes for to love us weel.Al this sentence me liketh every deel.” (ll. 152-162)

***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 versusAuthority (?)