The Shipman's Tale
Folio 182r
4 of 12 folios
85
For whiche ful fast his counterhous dore he schette
And eke he nolde no man schold him lette
Of his accomptes for þe mene time
And þus he sitte til it was passed pime
Dan Ioħn was resen in þe morne also
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And in gardyn walkeþ to & fro
And haþe his þinges seide deuoutly
This good wif cam walkinge piuely
In to þe Gardeine þer he walkeþ soft
And him Salueþ as sche haþ done oft
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Amaiden childe cam in hire cōpaignie
Whiche att hir lust maie gouerne & gye
For ȝit vnder þe ȝerde was þe maide
O dere Cosyn myne dan Ioħn sche saide
What eyleyþe ȝowe so raþe to rise
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Nece qd he hit ouhte ynouhe suffise
.V. houres to slepe on a nyht
Bot it were for an olde palled knyht
As ben þes wedded men þat ly & dare
As in a forme sitt alweie an hare
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Were al for strauht wiþ houndes grete & smale
Bot dere nece whi be ȝe so pale
.I. trowe certes þat oure good man
Haþe ȝowe labourde seþen þe niht be gan
That ȝowe were nede to resten hastelye
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And wiþ þat worde he louhe ful merelye
And of owen þouht he wex rede
Þis faire wif gan to sake hire hede
And seide þus ; ȝe god wote al qd sche
Nay cosyne myne it stant nouht so wiþ me
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For be þat god þat ȝaf me soule & life
In al þe reme of fraunce is þere no wif
Þat lesse lust haþe to þat sori pleie
For .I. maie singe alace & weilewaie
Þat .I. was borne bot to no whight qd sche
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Dare .I. nouht teƚƚ howe it stant wiþ me
Wherefore .I. þenke oute of þis londe to wende
Or elles of my selfe to make an ende
So fol am .I. of drede & of care
This monke be gan vpon þis wif to stare
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And seide alace my nece god for bede
That ȝe for any sorwe or for any drede