The Merchant's Tale
Folio 145r
29 of 29 folios
And ȝit some clerkes seyn it nys nouȝt so
50
Of which Theoffraste is on of þo
What fors þeiȝ theofraste luste lye
Ne take no wijf quod he for husbandrye
As for to spare in housholde þin dispence
A trewe seruaūt doþ more diligence
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Þy good to kepe þan þin owen wijf
For sche wol clayme half part al hire lijf
And if þat þou be seek so god me saue
Þy verray frendes oþer a trewe knaue
Wol kepe þe bet þan sche þat wayteþ ay
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After þy good and haþ don many a day
To þis entente and an C siþes wurse
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But tak no kepe of alle such vanyte
Defye theofrast and herkne me
A wyff is goddes ȝifte verrayly
Alle oþer maner ȝiftes hardily
As landes rentes pasture or comune
Oþer oþer ȝiftes þat moebles of fortune
Þat passen as a schadewe on a waƚƚ
But drede nougħt if pleynly speke I schaƚƚ
A wyf wil laste and in þin hous endure
Wel lenger þan þe luste to endur
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Mariage is a ful gret sacrament
He which haþ no wijf I holde him schent
He lyueþ helples and is al desolat
I speke of folk in seculer estat
And herkne why I say nouȝt þis for nouȝt
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Þe wōman is for mannes help y wrouȝt
Þe hihe god when he hadde adam maked
And sawe him allone bely naked
God of his grete goodnesse sayde he þanne
Lete vs now make an helpe to þis manne
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Y like to himself and þen he made Eue
Here may ȝe se and here by ȝe preue
That wijf is mannes helpe and his comfort