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But so bifel, this marchant on a day |
| Shoop hym to make redy his array |
| 55 | Toward the toun of Brugges for to fare, |
| To byen there a porcioun of ware; |
| For which he hath to Parys sent anon |
| A messenger, and preyed hath daun John |
| That he sholde come to Seint-Denys to pleye |
| 60 | With hym and with his wyf a day or tweye, |
| Er he to Brugges wente, in alle wise. |
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It so it happened, this merchant, on a day, |
| Prepared to make all ready his array, |
| 55 | Since to the town of Bruges he was to fare |
| To purchase there a quantity of ware; |
| To which end he'd to Paris sent someone |
| With messages, and he had prayed Don John |
| That he should come to Saint-Denis to pay |
| 60 | Him and his wife a visit for a day, |
| Before he went to Bruges, certainly must do. |
|
| This noble monk, of which I yow devyse, |
| Hath of his abbot, as hym list, licence, |
| By cause he was a man of heigh prudence, |
| 65 | And eek an officer, out for to ryde, |
| To seen hir graunges and hire bernes wyde, |
| And unto Seint-Denys he comth anon. |
| Who was so welcome as my lord daun John, |
| Oure deere cosyn, ful of curteisye? |
| 70 | With hym broghte he a jubbe of malvesye, |
| And eek another, ful of fyn vernage, |
| And volatyl, as ay was his usage. |
| And thus I lete hem ete and drynke and pleye, |
| This marchant and this monk, a day or tweye. |
|
| This noble monk, whereof I'm telling you. |
| Had from his abbot, when he wished, license, |
| Because he was a man of great prudence, |
| 65 | An officer, indeed, who out did ride |
| To see to barns and granges, far and wide; |
| And now to Saint-Denis he came anon. |
| Who was so welcome as my lord Don John, |
| Our cousin dear, so full of courtesy? |
| 70 | With him he brought a jug of rare malmsey, |
| And still another full of fine vernage, |
| And wild fowls, too, as was his long usage. |
| And so I let them eat and drink and play, |
| This monk and merchant, for a night and day. |
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