The Shipman's Tale
Folio 204v
12 of 13 folios
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And if þat he nouȝt may par aduentur
Or elles luste no suche spenses endure /
But þenkeþ it is waste and y loste /
Thenne moot an oþer payen for oure coste
Or lene vs golde and þat is perilous
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Þis noble marchand held a noble hous
For which he hadde alday gret repayre
For his largenesse and for his wyf was fayre
Þat wonder is but herkeneþ to my tale
Amonges aƚƚ his gestes grete and smale /
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Þer was a monk a fair man and a bolde
I trowe a þritty wynter he was olde /
That euer in oon was drawyng to þe place
Þis ȝonge monk þat was so fair of face
Aqueynted was so wiþ þis goode man
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Siþenes þat here firste knowleche bygan
That in his hous as Famuler was he
As it is possible eny frend to be
And for as mekel as þe goode man
And eek þis monk of which þat I bygan
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Were boþe tuo y born in o village
The monk him claymeþ as for cosynage
And he aȝein he saiþ nougħt ones nay
But was as glad þer of as foul of day
For to his herte it was a gret plesaunce
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Þus ben þay knitte wiþ eterne alliaunce /
And ilke of hem gan oþer for to assure /
Of broþerhode whiles þat here lyf may dure
Fre was daun Iohñ and namely of dispense
As in þat hous and ful of diligence
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To do plesaunce and also gret costage /
He nougħt forgat to ȝiue þe leste page /
In al þat hous but after here degre
He ȝaf þe lord and seþins al his meyne /
Whan þat he came som maner honest þing
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For which þey were al glad of his comyng