The Shipman's Tale
Folio 195r
3 of 12 folios
Whan þat he com som maner honest þing
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For which þay were as glad of his comyng
As foul is fayn . whan þat þe sonne vpriseþ
No more of þis as now for it suffiseþ
But so bifel þis marchaunt on a day /
Schop him to make redy his array /
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Toward þe toun of Bruges for to fare /
To byen þer a porcioū of ware
For which he hath to paris sent anoon
A messanger and prayed had dan Ioħn
That he schuld come to seint Denys and play
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With him and wiþ his wyf a day or tway
Er he to brigges went . in alle wise
This nobil monk of which I ȝow deuyse
Haþ of his abbot as him list licence
By cause he was a man of heih prudence
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And eek an officer out for to ryde /
To se her graunges and her bernes wyde /
And vnto seint denys he comeþ anoon
Who was so welcome as my lord dan Ioħn
Oure deere cosyn ful of curtesie /
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With him brougħt he a Iubbe of maluesie
And eek anoþer ful of wyn vernage
And volantyn as ay was his vsage
And þus I lete hem ete and drynk and play
This marchaūt and þis monk a day or tway
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The þridde day þis marchaund vp he riseth
And on his needes sadly him auyseth
And vp in to his countour hous goþ he
To rekyn wiþ himself as wel may be /
Of þilke ȝer how þat it with him stood
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And how þat he dispended had his good
And if þat he encresced were or noon
His bookes and his bagges many oon
He haþ byforn him on his counter bord
For riche was his tresor and his hord
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For which ful fast his countor dore he schette
And eek he wolde no man schold him lette