The Merchant's Tale
Folio 136v
8 of 32 folios
260
That his counseil schuld passe his lordes wit
Nay lordes ben no fooles by my fay
Ȝe haue ȝour self y spoken heer to day
So heigħ sentens so holly and so wel
Þat I consente and conferme euery del
265
Ȝoure wordes aƚƚ . and ȝoure oppinioun
By god þer is no man in al þis toun
Ne in ytaile couþe better haue sayd
Crist holdith him of þis ful wel a payd
And trewely it is an heigh corrage
270
Of any man þat stopen is in age /
To take a ȝong wyf by my fader kyn
Ȝour herte hongith on a ioly pyn
Doth now in þis matier right as ȝow lest
For fynally I hold it for þe best
275
Iustinus þat ay stille sat and herde /
Right in þis wise he to placebo answerde /
Now brother myn be pacient I ȝow pray
Syns ȝe haue sayd and herknith what I say
Senec amonges oþer wordes wyse
280
Saith þat a man augħt him wel auyse
To whom he ȝiueth his lond or his catel
And syns I aught auyse me right wel
To whom I ȝiue my good away fro me
Wel more I aught avised for to be
285
To whom I ȝiue my body for alwey
I warn ȝow wel . it is no childes pley
To take a wyf wiþoute avisement
Men most enquere þis is myn assent
Wher sche be wys or sobre or dronkelewe
290
Or proud or oþer way a schrewe
A chyder or a wastour of þy good
Or riche or pore or elles man is wood
Al be it so þat no man fynde schal
Noon in þis world þat trottith hool in al
295
Neyther man ne best such as men can deuyse
But natheles it aught ynough suffise
Wiþ any wyf if so were þat sche hadde