The Shipman's Tale
Folio 199v
12 of 12 folios
Tel me alway er þat I fro þe go
If eny dettour haue in myn absence
I payed þe lest in þy necgligence
I may him axe a þing þat he haþ payed
400
This wyf was not affered ne affrayed
But holly sche sayde and þat anoon
Mary I diffy þat false monk dan Ioħn
I kepe not of his tokenes neuer a del
He took me a certeyn gold / þat wot I wel
405
What euel thedom on his monkes snowte /
For god it wot I wende wiþoute doute
That he had ȝeue it me by cause of ȝow
To do þer with myn honour and my prow
For cosynage and eek for bele cheer
410
That he haþ had ful ofte tyme heer
But synnes þat I stonde in þis disioynt
I wol answer ȝow schortly to þe poynt
Ȝe han mo slakke dettours þan am I
For I wol pay ȝow wel and redily
415
Fro day to day and if so be I faile
I am ȝour wif score it vpon my taile
And I schal paye it as soone as I may
For by my trouþe I haue on myn array
And nougħt on wast bistowed it euery del
420
And for I haue bistowed it so wel
To ȝoure honour for goddes sake I say
As beþ nougħt wroþ but let vs laugħ and play /
Ȝe schul my ioly body haue to wedde /
By god I wol not pay ȝow but on bedde /
425
Forȝeue it me myn owne spouse deere /
Turne hiderward and make better cheere
This marchaund saugħ noon oþer remedy
And for to chide it nas but foly
Siþ þat þe þing may not amendid be /
430
Wif he sayde / and I forȝiue it þe /
But by þi lif ne be no more so large
Keep better my good þis ȝiue I þe in charge
Thus endeþ now my tale and god vs sende
Talyng ynough vnto our lyues ende / Amē /