The Merchant's Tale
Folio 135v
6 of 32 folios
Wōman of many a skile half a clerk is
185
But certeyn a ȝong þing may men gye
Right as men may warm wax with hondes plye
Wher for I say ȝow plenerly in a clause
I wil noon old wyf han right for þat cause
For if so were I hadde so meschaunce
190
Þat I in hir couþe haue no plesaunce
Than schuld I lede my lyf in aduoutrie
And go streight to þe deuel whan I dye .
Ne children schuld I noon vpon hir geten
Ȝet were me leuer houndes had me eten .
195
Þan þat myn heritage schulde falle
In straunge hond and þus I telle ȝow alle
I doute not . I wot þe cause why
Men scholde wedde . and forþermor woot I
Ther spekith many man of mariage
200
That wot nomore of it þan wot my page
For whiche causes . man schuld take a wyf
If he ne may not chast be by his lif
Take him a wif with gret deuociou~
By cause of lawful procreaciou~
205
Of children to þonour of god aboue
And not oonly for paramour and for loue
And for þay schulde leccherye eschiewe
And ȝeld oure dettes whan þat it is due
Or for þat ilk man schulde helpen oþer
210
In meschief as suster schal to þe broþer
And lyue in chastite ful heuenly
But sires by ȝour leue þat am not I
For by þanked I dar make auaunt
I feele my lemys stark and suffisaut~
215
To doon al þat a man bilongeth vnto
I wot my selue best what I may do
¶ Though I be hoor I fare as doþ a tree
That blossemith er þat þe fruyt I waxe be
A blossemy tre is neither drye ne deed
220
I fele me no wher hoor but on myn heed
Myn herte and my lymes ben as greene