The Merchant's Tale
Folio 121r
27 of 29 folios
That I wolde graunten him his syght ayeyne
1070
Mi word shal stond I warne yow certeyne
I am a kyng it sitte me noght to lye
¶ And I quod she a queene of fayrie
Hir answer shal she haue I vndertake
Let vs no more here of wordes make
1075
Forsothe I wole no lenger yow contrarye
¶ Now lat vs turne agayn to Ianuarye
That in the gardeyn with his fair may
Syngeth ful mirier than the popynIay
Yow loue I best and shal and other noon
1080
So longe aboute the aleys is she goon
Til he was come agayns thilke pirye
Where as this Damyan sitteth ful myrye
An high amonge the fressh leues grene
¶ This fressh may that is so bright and shene
1085
Gan for to syke and seyde allas my side
Now syr quod she for oghte that may bityde
I moste han of the peres that I se
Or y mote dye so soore longeth me
To eten of the smale peris grene
1090
Helpe for hir loue that is of heuene quene
I telle yow wel a womman in my plite
May han to fruyt so gret an appetite
That she may dyen but she of it haue
¶ Allas quod he that I nad here a knaue
1095
That coude clymbe allas allas quod he
For ich am blynde ye sir no fors quod she
But wolde ye vouchefafe for goddes sake
The pirye in with your armes for to take
For wel I wote that ye ne triste me
1100
Thanne shold I clymbe wel ynow quod she
So y my foot myght set vpon your bakke
¶ Sertis quod he ther on shal be no lakke
Might y yow helpen wyt myn hert blood
He stoupeth doun and on his bakke she stood
1105
And caught hir bi atwist and vp she goth
Ladyes I pay yow that ye be nat wroth
I can nat glose I am a rude man