The Merchant's Tale
Folio 130v
5 of 26 folios
140
Loue wele þi wif as crist loueþ his chirche
If þou loues þi self þou loues þi wif
No man hateþ his flesche bot in his lif
He fostreþe it & þer for bid .I. þe
Chirische þi wif þou or þou schalt neuer þe
145
Husband & wif whatt so men Iape or pleie
Of werldly folke holde þe riht weie
Ther bnen so knytte þer maie non harme betide
And namely vpon þe wif side
For whiche þis Ianuare of whiche .I. tolde
150
Considered in wiþ his daies olde
The lusty þe vertuous quiete
That is in mariage any swete
And for his frendes on a daie sent
To teƚƚen hem þeffect of his entent
155
Wiþ face sadde he haþ hem þis tale tolde
He seide frendes .I. am hore & olde
And almoste god wote att my puttes brinke
Vpon my soule sum what most .I. þinke
.I. haue my body folely dispended
160
.I. blissed be god þat it schal be amended
For .I. wil be certeine a wedded man
And þat in al þe hast þat .I. can
Vnto sum maide faire & tendre of age
.I. praie ȝowe schape for mi Mariage
165
Also sudanly for .I. for .I. wil nouht abide
And .I. wil fonde aspie on my side
To whome .I. maie be wedded hastely
Bot for also muche as ȝe bnen mo þan .I.
Ȝe schoƚƚ raþerne suche a þinge aspyen
170
Þan .I. & where me lust best to allyen
Bot o þinge warne .I. ȝowe my frendes dere
.I. wil none olde wif haue in no manere
Sche schal nouht passe .xvj. ȝere certeigne
Olde flesshe & ȝonge flesshe þat wolde .I. haue ful feine
175
Bet is qd he a pike þan a pikerele
And better þan olde bufe is tendre vele
.I. wil no wōman .xx. ȝere of age
It nes bot benestrawe . & grete forage
And eke þis olde wedewes god it wote
180
Þei kon so muche craft on wades bote
So mechil broken harme whan þat hem lest