The Shipman's Tale
Folio 208v
4 of 13 folios
Aboute his neede and byeþ and creaunceþ
He neyþer pleyeþ at þe dys ne daunceþ
305
But as a marchand schortly for to telle
He leet his wyf and þer I lete him dwelle
Þe sonday next þe marchaunt was agon
To seint Denys I comen is Daun Ioħn
Wiþ croune and berde freisscħ and newe schaue
310
In al þe hous þer nas so lite a knaue
Ne no wigħt elles þat he nas fayn
For þat my lord doun Ioħn was come agayn
And schortly to here poynt for to gon
Þis fayre wyf acordeþ to daun Ioħn
315
And for þis hundred Frankes he schulde al nigħt
Haue hire in his armes bolt vprigħt
And þis acorde parfourmed was in dede
In myrþe al nigħt a busy lyf þey lede
Til it was day þat daun Ioħn went his way
320
And bade þe meyne far wel haue good day
For non of hem ne no wight in þe toun
Haþ of daun Ioħn rigħt non suspecioun
And forþ he rydeþ home to his abbay
Or wher him luste no more of him I say
325
This marchaunt whan þat ended was þe Fayre
To seint Denys he gan for to repayre
And wiþ his wyf he makeþ feste and chere
And telleþ hire þat chaffare is so deere
Þat needes moste he make a Cheuesaunce
330
For he was bounden in a reconysaunce
To paye xx þousand scheldes anon
For which þis marchaunt is y wont to gon
To borwe of certein frendes þat he hadde
A certeyn frankes and some wiþ him he ladde
335
And whan þat he was come in to þe toun
For gret chierte and gret affeccioun
Vnto daun Ioħn he ferst him goþ to pleye
Nougħt for to borwe of him no moneye But for to wyte