The Shipman's Tale
Folio 160r
6 of 11 folios
That I may do ryght as yow lust deuyse
And but I do god take on me vengeaunce
As foule as hed Ganielyun of fraunce
195
This gentil monk answerd in this manere
Now trewly myn owne lady dere
I haue on yow so gret a ruthe
That I yow swere and plight yow my truthe
That whanne your hosbond is to flaundres fare
200
I wol delyuer yow out of this care
For I shal brynge yow an hundreth frankes
And with that word he caught hir bi the flankes
And hir embrasid herd and kist hir ofte
Goth now your wey quod he al stille and softe
205
And lat vs dyne as sone as euer ye may
For bi my chilyndre hit is pime of the day
Goth now and beeth as trewe as I shal be
Now elles god forbede syr quod she
And forth she goth as Iolyf as a pie
210
And bad the kokes that thei shold hem hye
So that men myght dyne and that anon
Vp to hir housbond is this wif goon
And knokketh at his countre dore boldly
Que la quod he . petyr it am .I.
215
Quod she what syr how long wil ye fast
How longe tyme wol ye riken and cast
Your somes your bookes and your thinges
The deuel haue part of al swich rekenynges
Ye haue ynogh of goddes sounde
220
Come doun to day and lat your bagges stond
Ne be ye nat a shamed that dan Ioħn
Shal fastyng al this day thus eleng goon
What lat vs here messe and go we dyne
Wif quod this Marchaunt litil canst thow deuyne
225
The curious bisinesse that we haue
For of vs chapmen so god me saue
And bi that lord that cleped is seint yue .
Scarsly among 2xij two shuln thryue
Contynuelly lastyng vnto our age
230
We may wel make cheer and good visage