© Librarius
All rights reserved.
|
© Librarius All rights reserved. |
| "Wepyng and waylyng, care and oother sorwe | |
| I knowe ynogh, on even and a-morwe," | |
| Quod the marchant, "and so doon other mo | |
| That wedded been. I trowe that it be so, | |
| 5 | For wel I woot it fareth so with me. |
| I have a wyf, the worste that may be; | |
| For thogh the feend to hire ycoupled were, | |
| She sholde hym overmacche, I dar wel swere. | |
| What sholde I yow reherce in special | |
| 10 | Hir hye malice? She is a shrewe at al. |
| Ther is a long and large difference | |
| Bitwix Grisildis grete pacience | |
| And of my wyf the passyng crueltee. | |
| Were I unbounden, also moot I thee! | |
| 15 | I wolde nevere eft comen in the snare. |
| We wedded men lyven in sorwe and care. | |
| Assaye whoso wole, and he shal fynde | |
| That I seye sooth, by Seint Thomas of Ynde, | |
| As for the moore part - I sey nat alle. | |
| 20 | God shilde that it sholde so bifalle! |
| A! goode sire hoost, I have ywedded bee | |
| Thise monthes two, and moore nat, pardee; | |
| And yet, I trowe, he that al his lyve | |
| Wyflees hath been, though that men wolde him ryve | |
| 25 | Unto the herte, ne koude in no manere |
| Tellen so muchel sorwe as I now heere | |
| Koude tellen of my wyves cursednesse!" | |
| Now," quod oure hoost, "Marchaunt, so God yow blesse, | |
| Syn ye so muchel knowen of that art | |
| 30 | Ful hertely I pray yow telle us part." |
| "Gladly," quod he, "but of myn owene soore, | |
| For soory herte, I telle may namoore." |
| Next: The Merchant's Tale (ll. 33-1206) | © Librarius All rights reserved. |