The Shipman's Tale
Folio 161v
9 of 11 folios
305
But as a marchant shortely for to telle
He led \his/ lif and there I let him dwelle
The sonday next dan Ioħn is agon
¶ To seynt denys y comen is dan Ioħn
With croune and beerd al fressh and new y shaue
310
In al the hous ther nas so litel a knaue
Ne no wight elles that he ne was fayne
For that my lord dan Ioħn was comen ayen
And shortely to hir poynt for to gon
This fair wif acordeth with dan Ioħn
315
And for this hundreth frankes he shold al nyght
Haue hir in his armes bolt vpright .
And this accord parfourmed was in dede
In myrth al nyght abisi lif thei lede
Til it was day that dan Ioħn went his way
320
And bad the meynee fare wel and haue good day
For non of hem ne no wight in the toun
Hath of dan Ioħn right no suspecioun
And forth he rideth hoom to his Abbeye
Or where him lust no more of him I seye
325
¶ This Marchant whan that endid was his faire
To seint denys he gan to repayre
And with his wif he maketh fest and cheer
And telleth that chaffare is so dere
That nedes most he make a cheuysance
330
For he was bounden in a reconysance
To pay twenty thousand sheeldes anon
For which this Marchant is to parys gon
To borwe of certeyn frendes that he hedde
A certeyn frankes and some with him he ledde
335
And whan that he was comen in to that toun
For gret cherite and gret affeccioun
Vnto dan Ioħn he first goth him to pley
Noght for to borwe of him money
But for to wit and se of his welfare
340
And for to tellen him of his chaffare
As frendes don whan thei ben met in fere
Dan Ioħn him maketh fest and mery chere