The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 66v
2 of 27 folios
Better is to dyen þan haue indigence
Þi self neighebore wil þe dispise
If þou be pore fare wele þi reuerence
Ȝit of þe wiseman takeþ þis sentence
20
Aƚƚ þe daies of pormen ben wikke
Be war þar fore or þou com in þat prikke
¶ If þou be pore þi broþer hateþ þee
And al þi frendes flye fro þe alas
O riche marchauntes ful of wel be ȝe
25
O noble prudent folke as in þis cas
Ȝoure bagges bene nouȝt filled wiþ ambes aas
Bot wiþ sis sinke þat renneþ for ȝoure chaunce
Att Cristes masse mery maie ȝe daunce
¶ Ȝe seken londe & see for ȝoure wininges
30
As wise folke þat knowen al þe astate
Of regnes ȝe bene faders of tiþinges
And tales boþen of pes & debate
.I. was riht nowe of tales desolate
Nar þat a marchant gone is mony aȝere
35
Me tauht a tale whiche as ȝe schal here
In Surre some while dweled a company .
Of chap men riche & þer to sadde & trewe
That wide where senten hire spicery
Cloþes of golde & satine riche of hewe
40
Her chaffer was so þrefty & so newe
That euery wiht haþe deynte to chaffare
Wiþe hem & eke to sellen hem here ware
¶ Nowe feƚƚ þat þe maistres of þat sorte
Haue schapen hem to Rome for to wende
45
Were it fo chapmanhode or for disporte
None oþer Messagier wolde þei þeder sende
Bot cam hem selft to rome þis es þe ende
And in swyche place as þouht hem auantage
For here intent þei take her herbergage .
50
¶ Soiorne haue þese marchantes in þat toune
A certaine time as feƚƚ to here plesaunce
Bot so be fel þat þe excellent renoune
Of þe Emperoure douhter Dame Custance
Reported was wiþ euery circumstance
55
Vn to þis surrien Marchantez in suche wise
Fro day to day as .I. schal ȝowe deuise
¶ This was þe comune voyce of euery man