The Merchant's Tale
Folio 118r
21 of 29 folios
Saue out of doute he may not forgon
That he was Ialouse euer more in oon
Wyth Ialousie he was so outeraious
That neither in halle ne in noon other hous
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Ne in noon other place neuer the mo
He nolde suffre hir to ryde or goo
But yif that he had hond on hir alway
For which ful ofte wepeth fressh may
That loueth damyan so benygnely
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That she mot either dyen sodeynly
Or elles she mot han him at hir leste
She waiteth whan hir herte wolde to breste
¶ Vpon that othir syde damyan
Bicome is the sorwefullest man
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That euyr was for neither nyght ne day
Ne myght he speke a word to fressh may
As to the purpos of non swich matere
But yif that Ianuarie most it here
That had an hond vpon hir euer moo
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But nathalees bi writyng to and fro
And piue signes wist he what she mente
And she knew ek the fyn of his entente
O Ianuarye what myght the auaille
Thogh thow myghtest se as fer as shippes saille
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For as good is blynde desceyued be
As to be desceyued whan man may se
Loo Argus which that had an hundred eyen
For al that he coude poure or prien
Yit was he blent and so ben many mo
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That weneth wisly that it be nat so
Passe ouer is an ese y sey no more
¶ This fressh may that I spak of yore
In warm wex hath prented the cliket
That Ianuarye bar of that smal wyket
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Bi which in to his gardyn ofte he went
And damyan that knew al this entent
The cliket countrefeted piuely
Ther nys no more to sey but hastyly