The Merchant's Tale
Folio 146v
26 of 29 folios
160
Y blessed be god þat it schal ben amended
For I wol be certein a wedded man
And þat in aƚƚ þe haste þat I can
Vnto som mayde fayr and tendre of age
I pay you schapeþ for my mariage
165
Al sodeinly for I wol nouȝt abyde
And I wole fonde aspye on my syde
To whom I may be wedded hastely
But for as moche þat ȝe ben mo þen I
Ȝe schullen raþer such a þing aspyen
170
Þan I and wher me luste best allyen
But oþing warne I ȝou my frendes deere
I wol non old wyf haue in no manere /
Sche schal nouȝt passe xvj ȝer certayn
Old fleissħ and ȝong fleissħ þat wolde I han ful fayn
175
Bet is quod he a pyk þan a pykrelle
And bet þan olde beef is þe tendre feell
I wol no wōman xx i. ȝer of age
It nys but benestraw and gret forage
And eek þis olde wydewes god it woot
180
Þey konne so moche craft on wades boot
So mochil broken harme whan þat hem liste
Þat wiþ hem schulde I neuer lyuen in reste
For sondry scoles makeþ subtile clerkys
Wōmen of many a scole half a clerk is
185
But certeinly a ȝong þing may me gye
Rigħt as men may warm wax wiþ handes to plye
Þerfore I sey ȝow pleinly in a clause
I wol non old wijf haue for þis cause
For if so were if I hadde so myschaunce
190
That I in hire ne couþe han no plesaunce
Þenne scholde I lede my lijf in aduoutrye
And so streyt to þe deuyl whan I dye
Ne children schulde I non vpon hire geten
Ȝit were me leuer houndes hadde me eten
195
Þan þat myn heritage scholde falle