The Shipman's Tale
Folio 159r
4 of 11 folios
¶ This faire wif gan to shake hir heed
And seyde thus ye god wot al quod she
Nay Cosyn myn it stont nat so with me
115
For bi that god that yaf vs soule and lif
In al the Reame of fraunce is ther no wif
That lasse luste hath vnto that sory play
For y may synge allas and welawey
That I was born but no wight quod she
120
Dar I nowght telle how it stant with me
Wherfore I thinke out of this lond to wende
Or elles of my lif to make an ende
So ful am I of drede and eke of care
¶ This monk bigan vpon this wif to stare
125
And seide allas my nece god forbede
That ye for any sorwe or any drede
For do your self but telleth me your greef
Perauenture I may in your myscheef
Conseil or help and therfore telleth me
130
Alle your annoy for it shal be secre
For on my portuos I make an oth
That neuer in my lif for leef ne loth
Ne shal I of your counseil yow biwrye
¶ The same ageyn to yow quod she I seye
135
Bi god and bi this portuos I swere
Theigh men me wolde al in peces to tere
Ne shal I neuer for to go to helle
Biwrye word of thing that ye me telle
Nat for no Cosynage ne alliaunce
140
But verrayly for loue and affiaunce
Thus ben thei swore and heer vpon kist
And eche of hem told other what him list
¶ Cosyn quod she yif I had tyme or space
As I haue noon and namely in this place
145
Thanne wold I telle a legend of my lif
What I haue suffred syn that I was a wif
With myn husbond al though he be your cosyn
¶ Nay quod this monk bi god and bi seynt martyn
He is no more Cosyn vnto me
150
Thanne is this leef that hangeth on this tre
I clepe him so bi seint denys in fraunce