Epilogue to the Merchant's Tale
Folio 153r
1 of 2 folios
¶ Here folwen the wordes of the worthy hoost to the Frankeleyn ~ ~ ~
EY goddes mercy / seyde oure hoost tho
Now swich a wyf / I prey god kepe me fro
Lo whiche sleightes / and subtiltees
In wommen ben / for ay as bisy as bees
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Ben they / vs sely men for to xxceyue
And from a sooth / euere wol they weyue
By this Marchantes tale / it preueth weel
But doutelees / as trewe as any steel
I haue a wyf / thogh þt she poore be
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But of hir tonge / a labbyng shrewe is she
And yit she hath / an heep of vices mo
Ther of no fors / lat alle swiche thynges go
But wite ye what in conseil be it seyd
Me reweth soore / I am vn to hire teyd
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For and I sholde / rekenen euery vice
Which þt she hath / ywis I were to nyce
And cause why / it sholde reported be
And toold to hire / of sōme of this meynee
Of whom ~ it nedeth nat for to declare
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Syn wōmen / konnen oute swich chaffare
And eek my wit suffiseth nat ther to
To tellen al / wherfore my tale is do
¶ Sire Frankeleyn / com neer / if it your wille be
And sey vs a tale / for certes ye
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Konnen ther on / as muche as any man
¶ Nay sire quod he / but I wol seye as I kan