The Shipman's Tale
Folio 205r
11 of 13 folios
As foul is fayn whan sonne vp ariseþ
Namore of þis as now for it suffiseþ
But so bifeƚƚ þis marchaund vpon a day
Schop him to make redy his array
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Toward þe toun of Bruges for to fare
To byen þere a porcioun of ware
For which he haþ to Parys sent anon
A messanger and preyed haþ doun Ion
That he schulde come to seint Denys and pleye
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Wiþ him and with his wyf a day or tweye
Or he to Bruges wente in aƚƚ wyse
This noble monk of which I ȝou deuyse
Haþ of his abbot as him lust licence
By cause he was a man of heih prudence
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And eek an officer out for to ryde
To see here graunges and here bernes wyde
And vnto seynt Denys he comeþ anon
Who was so welcome as my lord daun Ioħn
Oure deere cosyn ful of curtesye
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Wiþ him brougħt he a Iobbe of maluesye
And eek anoþer ful of good vernage
And volatille as ay was his vsage
And þus I lete hem ete and drynke and pleye
This marchand and þis monk a day or tweye /
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The þridde day þis marcħand vp ariseþ
And on his needes sadly him aviseþ
And vp in to his countour hous goþ he /
To rekne wiþ himselue wel may be /
Of þilke ȝeer how þat it with him stood
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And how þat he despended hadde his good
And if þat he encresed were or non
His bokes and his bagges many oon
He leyþ bifore him on his countyng bord
Ful riche was his tresour and his hoord
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For which ful faste his counterhous dore he schette
And eek he nolde noman schulde him lette