The Merchant's Tale
Folio 136r
7 of 32 folios
As laurer þurgħ þe ȝeer is for to seene
And synnes ȝe han herd al myn entent
I pray ȝow to my wille ȝe assent
225
Diuerse men diuersly him tolde
Of mariage many ensamples olde
Some blamed him some praised it certayn
But atte laste schortly for to sayn
As alday fallith altercaciou~
230
Bitwixe frendes in despitesou~
Ther fel a strif bitwen his bretheren tuo
Of which þat oon was clepid Placebo
Iustinë soþly cleped was þat oþer
Placebo sayde . o . Ianuary broþer
235
Ful litel need had ȝe my lord so deere
Counseil to axe of eny þat is heere
But þat ȝe ben so ful of sapience
That ȝow ne likith for ȝour heigh prudence /
To wayue fro þe word of Salamon
240
This word said he vnto vs euerychoon
Werk al þing by counsail þus sayd he /
And þanne schaltow nought repente þe
But þough þat Salamon speke such a word
Myn owne deere broþer and my lord
245
So wisly god bring my soule at ese and rest
I holde ȝour oughne counseil is þe best
For broþer myn of me tak þis motif
I haue now ben a court man al my lyf
And god wot þougħ . þat I vnworþy be
250
I haue standen in ful gret degre
Abouten lordes in ful gret estat
Ȝit had I neuer with noon of hem debaat
I neuer hem contraried trewely
I wot wel þat my lord can more þan I
255
What þat he saith I hold it ferm and stable
I say þe same or elles þing semblable
A ful gret fool is eny counselour
Þat seruith any lord of high honour
Þat dar presume or oones þenken it /