The Merchant's Tale
Folio 119r
23 of 29 folios
Thow art that creature that I best loue
For bi that lord that is in heuene aboue
Leuer ich hedde to dyen on a knyf
920
Than the offende my trew dere wif
For goddes sake thenke or the chees
Noght for couetyse doutelees
But oonly for the loue I hadde to the
And thogh that y be olde and may nat se
925
Beth to me trew and I shal telle yow whi
Thre thinges certes shal ye wynne ther bi
First is loue of crist and to your self honour
And al myn heritage toun and ek tour
Y yeue it yow maketh chartres as yow lest
930
This shal be doon to morwe or sonne rest
So wisly god my soule brynge in blisse
I prey yow first in couenant ye me kisse
And thogh I be Ialous wite me noght
Ye ben so depe emperntid in my thoght
935
That whan I concidre your beautee
And therwyth al the vnlikly elde of me
I may nat certes thogh I shold dye
Forbere to ben out of your companye
For verray loue this is wyth outen doute
940
Now kisse me wif and lat vs rome aboute
¶ This Fresshe may whan she thise wordes herd
Benyngly to Ianuarye answerd
But first and forward she bigan to wepe
I haue quod she a soule ek to kepe
945
As wel as ye and also myn honour
And of my wifhode thilke tendre flour
Which that I haue assured in your hond
Whan that the preest to yow my body bond
Wherfore I wol answere in this manere
950
Be the loue of my lord so dere
I prey to god that neuer dawe the day
That I ne sterue as foule as womman may
Yif euer I do vnto my kyn that shame