The Shipman's Tale
Folio 206r
9 of 13 folios
So ful am I of drede and of care
This monk bygan vpon þis wyf to stare
125
And sayde allas my neece god it forbede
That ȝe for eny sorwe or ony drede
Fordo ȝoure self but telleþ forþ ȝoure greef
Paraduenture I may in ȝour mescheef
Counseile or helpe and þerfore telleþ me
130
Aƚƚ ȝoure annoye for it schal be secre
For on my portos I make an oth
Þat neuer in my lijf for leef ne loþ
Ne schal I of no counseil ȝou bewreye
The same aȝein to ȝou quod sche I seye
135
By god and by þis portos I swere
Þey men wolde me al to peeces tere
Ne schal I neuer for to go in to helle
Bewreye a word of þing þat ȝe me telle
Nougħt for no cosynage ne alliaunce
140
But verreily for loue and affiaunce
Thus ben þey swore and her vpon y kiste
And ilk of hem tolde oþer what hem liste
Cosyn quod sche if I hadde a space
As I haue non and namely in þis place
145
Þanne wolde I telle a legende of my lyf
What I haue suffred sethens I was a wyf
Wiþ mȳ housband and þeigh he be ȝour cosyn
Nay quod þis monk by god and by seint Martyn
He nys no more cosyn vnto me
150
Þen is þis leef þat hangeþ on þe tre
I clepe him so by seint Denys in Faunce
To haue þe more cause of acqueyntaunce
Of ȝou which I haue loued specially
155
This were ynougħ on my professioū
Telleþ ȝoure greef lest þat he come a doun
And hasteþ ȝou and goþ ȝoure wey anon
My deere loue quod sche O daun Ioħn