The Merchant's Tale
Folio 145v
28 of 29 folios
His paradis terreste and his disport
So buxom and so vertuous is sche
90
Þey mosten needes lyue in vnite
Of fleisshe þei ben and O fleisch as I gesse
Nouȝt but on herte in wele and in distresse
A wyf ; A seinte mary bñdicite
How migħt a man han any aduersite
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Þat haþ a wyf certes I can nouȝt say
Þe blisse þat is bitwexe hem tway
Þer may no tonge telle or herte þynke
If he be pore sche helpeþ him to swynke
Sche keepiþ his good and wasteþ neuer a del
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And al þat hire housband lust hir likeþ wel
Sche saiþ nouȝt ones nay whan he saiþ ȝe
Do þis saiþ he al redy sire seyþ sche
O blisful ordre O wedlok percious
Þou art so mery and eek so vertuous
105
And so comended and aproued eke
That euery man þat halt him worþ a leek
Vpon his bare knees aught al his lijf
Þanken his god þat him haþ sent a wyf
Oþer preyed god him for to sende
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A wijf to laste vnto his lyues ende
For þanne his lijf is sett in sikernesse
He may nouȝt be desceyued as I gesse
So þat he werche after his wyues reed
Þanne may he boldely beren vp his heed
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Þey ben so trewe and so wys
For which if þou wolt worchen as þe wyse
Do alway so as þe wōman wol þe rede
Lo how þat Iacob as þise clerkes rede
By good counseil of his moder rebekke
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Band þe kydes skyn abouten his nekke
For which his fadres benysoū he wan
Lo Iudith as þe story eek telle can
By wys counseil sche goddes poeple kepte and slougħ