The Shipman's Tale
Folio 194r
1 of 12 folios
615
Com forþ sir ost and offer first anoon
And þou schalt kisse þe reliquis euerichoon
Ȝe for a grote vnbocle þi purs
Nay nay quod he þan haue I cristes curs
Let be quod he it schal not be so theech
620
Thou woldest make me kisse þin olde breecħ
And swere it were a relik of a seynt
Though it were wiþ þi foundement depeynt
But by þe cros which þat seynt heleyn fond
I wold I had þy coylons in myn hond
625
In stede of reliks or of seintuary /
Let cut hem of I wol help hem to cary
Thay schul be schryned in an hogges tord
This pardoner answerde nat o word
So wroþ he was he wolde no word say
630
Now quod oure host I wol no lenger play
Wiþ þe ne with noon oþer angry man
But right anoon þis worþy knight bygan
Whan þat he saugh þat al þe peple lougħ
No more of þis for it is right ynougħ
635
Sir pardoner be glad and mery of cheere
And ȝe sir host þat ben to me so deere
I pray ȝow þat ȝe kisse þe pardoner
And pardoner I pray ȝow draweþ ȝow ner
And as we dede let vs laugh and play /
640
Anoon þay kisse and riden forþ her way /
¶ Here endeth þe pardoneres tale
¶ Here bygynneþ þe Schipman his tale
A Marchaūt whilom dwelled at seint Denys
That riche was for which men hild him wys
A wyf he had of excellent beaute
And companable and reuerent was sche
5
Which is a þing þat causeth more despence
Than worth is al þe cher and reuerence
That men doon hem at festes or at daunces
Such salutacioūs and continaunces
Passeth as doþ þe schadow on a wal
10
But wo is him þat paye moot for al