Chaucer writes in the Prologue, “By maistrie, al the soveraynetee, And that he seyde, ‘myn owene trewe wyf. Do as thee lust the terme of al thy lyf. Keep thyn honour, and keep eek myn estaat’—After that day we hadden never debaat. God help me so, I was to him as kinde. As any wyf from Denmark unto Inde. And also trewe, and so was he to me” (Chaucer & SparkNotes 818-825). This translates to the fifth husband telling his wife that he would leave it to her to decide what was best for the two of them, and when he did, when she finally got the freedom and control she wanted, she never had a reason to argue with him and so she became a better wife, and he an excellent husband. Likewise, toward the end of the tale, Chaucer writes after the knight states that the hag can make the decision for him, “Thanne have I gete of yow maistrye,’ quod she, ‘Sin I may chese, and governe as me lest?’ ‘Ye, certes, wyf,’ quod he, ‘I holde it best.’... And thus they live, unto hir lyves ende, In parfit Ioye” (Chaucer 380-382 & 401-402). This translated to the hag asking the knight to make sure that her making the decision would be best, and he agreed that it would, and once he willingly gave her that power, Chaucer states that
Chaucer writes in the Prologue, “By maistrie, al the soveraynetee, And that he seyde, ‘myn owene trewe wyf. Do as thee lust the terme of al thy lyf. Keep thyn honour, and keep eek myn estaat’—After that day we hadden never debaat. God help me so, I was to him as kinde. As any wyf from Denmark unto Inde. And also trewe, and so was he to me” (Chaucer & SparkNotes 818-825). This translates to the fifth husband telling his wife that he would leave it to her to decide what was best for the two of them, and when he did, when she finally got the freedom and control she wanted, she never had a reason to argue with him and so she became a better wife, and he an excellent husband. Likewise, toward the end of the tale, Chaucer writes after the knight states that the hag can make the decision for him, “Thanne have I gete of yow maistrye,’ quod she, ‘Sin I may chese, and governe as me lest?’ ‘Ye, certes, wyf,’ quod he, ‘I holde it best.’... And thus they live, unto hir lyves ende, In parfit Ioye” (Chaucer 380-382 & 401-402). This translated to the hag asking the knight to make sure that her making the decision would be best, and he agreed that it would, and once he willingly gave her that power, Chaucer states that