'Noon Oother Incubus but He': Lines 878-81 in the 'Wife of Bath's Tale

Author / Editor
Yamamoto, Dorothy.

Title
'Noon Oother Incubus but He': Lines 878-81 in the 'Wife of Bath's Tale

Published
Chaucer Review 28 (1994): 275-78.

Description
Lines 878-81 of WBT have been glossed incorrectly to suggest that while an incubus would get a woman pregnant, a friar would cause only dishonor. In fact, the tradition of the incubus is much darker, for this individual, associated with evil, had the power not only to impregnate but also to hurt severely or even to kill the intended victim and the victim's family. Comparatively, friar damage seems relatively minor.

Chaucer Subjects
Wife of Bath and Her Tale.