The Shipman's Tale
Folio 195v
4 of 12 folios
Of his accomptes for þe mene tyme /
And þus he sat til it was passed pime
Dan Ioħn was risen in þe morn also
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And in the gardyn walkith to and fro
And haþ his þinges said ful curteisly
This good wyf com walkyng ful priuely
In to a gardyn þer he walkeþ softe
And him salueth as sche haþ doon ful ofte
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A mayde child com in hir compaignie
Which as hir list sche may gouerne and gye
For ȝit vnder þe ȝerde was þe mayde
O dere cosyn myn dan Ioħn sche sayde
What ayleþ ȝow so raþe to arise
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Nece quod he it augħt ynough suffise
Fyue houres for to slepe a nigħt
But it were for eny old palled wigħt
As ben þese weddid men þat lye and dare
As in a forme liþ a wery hare
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Were al forstraugħt with houndes gret and smale
But dere nece why be ȝe so pale /
I trowe certis þat oure goode man
Hath on ȝow laborid sith þe night bygan
That ȝow were nede to resten hastiliche
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And with þat word he lowgħ ful meriliche
And of his owne þougħt he was al reed
This faire wyf bygan to schake hir heed
And sayde þus ȝe god wot al quod sche /
Nay cosyn myn it stant not so wiþ me
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For by þat god þat ȝaf me soule and lif
In al þe reme of Fraunce is þer no wif
That lasse lust haþ to þat sory play
For I may synge / allas and waylaway
That I was born but to no wigħt quod sche
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Dar I not telle how it stont wiþ me
Wherfor I þink out of þis lond to wende
Or elles of my self to make an ende /
So ful am I of drede and eek of care
This monk bygan vpon þis wif to stare