The Shipman's Tale
Folio 182v
5 of 12 folios
For do ȝowre self . bot telleþ forþe ȝoure greffe
Paraduenture .I. maie in ȝoure meschieffe
Counsel or helpe & þer fore telleþ me
130
Aƚƚ ȝowre annoyze for it schaƚƚ be secre
For oñ my portos .I. make an oothe
Þatt neuer in my lif for leue ne lothe
Ne schal .I. of no counsel ȝowe be wreye
The same aȝeine to ȝowe .I. seye
135
Be god & be þis portos .I. swere
Þouhe men wolde me al to peces tere
Ne schal .I. neuere for to go in to heƚƚ
Be wreye a worde of þinge þat me teƚƚ
Not for no Cosinage ne alliance
140
Bot verreyly for loue & affiance
Thus bue þe sworne & here vpon kist
And ekke of hem tolde oþer what hem lust
Cosine qd sche if .I. had aspace
As .I. haue none & namely in þis place
145
Þan wolde .I. tel a legent of my lyue
What .I. haue sufferd seþen .I. was a wive
Wiþe myne husbande al þeihe he be ȝoure cosine
Nay qd þis monke be god & be seint Martine
He nys no more cosine vn to me
150
Than is þe leue þ\t/a hangeþ on þis tre
.I. clepe him so be seinte denise in fraunce
To haue þe mor cause of acqueyntance
Of ȝowe whiche .I. haue loued specialye
A bouen al wēmen sekurlye
155
This swere .I. nowe on my professioūn
Telleþ ȝoure greue lest þat he come a doūn
And hasteþ ȝowe & go ȝoure weie anone
My dere loue qd sche o doun Iohñ
Ful leue me were þis counsel to hide
160
Bot out it mot it maie longer abide
Myne husband is to me þe werst man
Þat euer was seþen þe werlde began
Bot seþen .I. am a wif it sitte nouht me
To teƚƚ no wyght of oure piuete
165
Neyþer a bedde ne in none oþer place
Gold schelde .I. scholde tel it for his grace
A wif ne schal nouȝt seine of hir husbande
Bot aƚƚ honoure as .I. kan vnder stonde .