The Merchant's Tale
Folio 148r
23 of 29 folios
Crist haldeþ him of þis ful wel a payd
And trewely it is an heih corage
270
Of eny man þat stopen is in age
To take a ȝong wyf by my fader kyn
Ȝoure herte hangeþ vpon a Ioly pyn
Doþ now in þis matier rigħt as ȝou leste
For fynally I halde it for þe beste
275
¶ Iustynus þat ay stille sat and herde
He rigħt on þis wise to Placebo answerde
Now broþer myn be pacient I preye
Siþenes ȝe han sayd and herkneþ what I seye
Senek amonges oþer wordes wyse
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Seiþ þat aman him oughte right wel auyse
To whom he ȝeuyþ his lond oþer his catel
And seþenes I aught auyse me right wel
To whom I ȝiue my good awey fro me
Wel more I auȝte to auyse me
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To whom I ȝiue my body for alwey
I warne ȝou wel it nys no childes pley
To take a wijf wiþoute auysement
Men moste enquere þis is myn assent
Wheþer sche be wys or sobre or drunkelewe
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Oþer proude oþer oþerwey a schrewe
A chydester or a wastour of þy good
Oþir riche or pore or of maneres wood
Al be it so þat no man fynde schal
None in þis worlde þat trottiþ hool in al
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Ne man ne beeste suche as men conne deuyse
But naþeles it auȝt ynougħ suffise
Wiþ any wijf if þat so were sche hadde
Mo goode þewes þan hire vices badde
And al þis askeþ leiser for to enquere /
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For god it woot I haue wepte many a teere
Ful priuyly siþ þat I hadde a wyf
Preyse who so wole a wedded mannes lijf
Certayn I fynde in hit but coste and care