The Merchant's Tale
Folio 108r
1 of 29 folios
65
But take no kepe of al swich vanyte
Diffye theofrast and herkene me
¶ A wif is goddes yefte verrayly
Al other maner yeftes hardyly
As londes rentes pasture or commune
70
Thise ben the yeftes of fortune
That passen as a shadow on the wal
But drede thow noght yif pleynly speke y shal
A wif wol last and in this hous endure
Wel lenger than the list perauenture
75
¶ Mariage is a ful gret sacrament
He which that hath no wif I holde him shent
He lyueth helplees and al desolat
Y speke of folk in seculer estat
And herken whi I sey nat this for naght
80
That womman is for mannes helpe ywroght
The hie god whan he had Adam ymaked
And saugh him allone baly naked
God of his gret goodnesse seyde than
Let vs now make an helpe vnto this man
85
Lik to him selue and thanne he made him yeue
Here may ye se and here may ye preue
That wif is mannes help and confort
His paradys terrestre and his disport
So buxom and so vertuous is shee
90
Thei moste nedys lyue in vnyte
O flessh thei ben and o flessh as I gesse
Hath but on hert in wele and in distresse
¶ A wyf a seynt marie benedicite
How myght a man haue any aduersite
95
That hath a wif certes I can not sey
The blisse the which is bitwix hem twey
Ther may no tonge telle ne herte thinke
Yf he be poore she helpeth him to swynke
She kepeth his good and wasteth neueradel
100
Al that hir husbond doth hir liketh wel
She seyth not ones nay whan he seyth ye
Do this seith he al redy syr seith she
O blisful ordre .o. wedlok precious