The Shipman's Tale
Folio 211/210r
1 of 13 folios
But seþins I see I stonde in such disioynt
I wol answere ȝou schortly to þis poynt
Ȝe haue mo slakker dettours þen am I
For I wol paye ȝow wel and redily
415
Fro day to day and if so be I fayle
I am ȝour wyf score it vpon my tayle
And I schal paye as sone as euer I may
For by my trouþe I haue on mȳ array
And nougħt on waste bestowed euerydel
420
And for I haue bestowed it so wel
To ȝoure honour for goddes sake I say
As be nougħt wroþ but lete vs laughe and play
Ȝe schuln my ioly body haue to wedde /
By god I nyl nougħt paye ȝou but a bedde
425
Forȝiue it me myn owen spouse deere /
Turne hiderward and makeþ bettre cheere
This marchaunt seyh þer was no remedye /
And for to chyde it nere but folye /
Seþins þat þe þing may nougħt amended be
430
Now wyf he sayde and I forȝiue it þe
But by þin lyf ne be no more so large
Kepe bet my good þis ȝiue I þe in charge /
Þus endeþ now my tale and god vs sende
Toylyng ynougħ vnto oure lyues ende
Here endeþ þe schipmannes tale