|
The Sonday next the marchant was agon, |
| To Seint-Denys ycomen is daun John, |
| With crowne and berd al fressh and newe yshave, |
| 310 | In al the hous ther nas so litel a knave, |
| Ne no wight elles, that he nas ful fyn |
| That my lord daun John was come agayn. |
| And shortly to the point right for to gon |
| This faire wyf acorded with daun John |
| 315 | That for thise hundred frankes he sholde al nyght |
| Have hire in his armes bolt upright; |
| And this acord parfourned was in dede. |
| In myrthe al nyght a bisy lyf they lede |
| Til it was day, that daun John wente his way, |
| 320 | And bad the meynee "Farewel, have good day!" |
| For noon of hem, ne no wight in the toun, |
| Hath of daun John right no suspecioun. |
| And forth he rydeth hoom to his abbeye, |
| Or where hym list; namoore of hym I seye. |
|
|
On the first Sunday after he was gone, |
| To Saint-Denis is come again Dan John, |
| With face and tonsure shining from a shave. |
| 310 | In all the house was not so small a knave, |
| Nor any other, but was right glad, then, |
| Because my lord Dan John was come again. |
| And coming briefly to point, anon |
| This lovely wife agreed with her Dan John |
| 315 | That for these hundred francs he should, all night, |
| Have her within his arms and bolt upright; |
| And this agreement was performed in bed. |
| In mirth all night a busy life they led |
| Till it was dawn, when Dan John went his way, |
| 320 | Bidding the household "Farewell!" and "Good-day!" |
| For none of them, nor any in the town, |
| Had of Dan John the least suspicion shown. |
| So forth he rode, home to his own abbey, |
| Or where he wished; no more of him I say. |
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