Daun Iohn was risen in the morwe also,
And in the gardin walketh to and fro, 1280
And hath his thinges seyd ful curteisly. (91)
This gode wyf cam walking prively
In-to the gardin, ther he walketh softe,
And him saleweth, as she hath don ofte.
A mayde child cam in hir companye, 1285
Which as hir list she may governe and gye,
For yet under the yerde was the mayde.
‘O dere cosin myn, daun Iohn,’ she sayde,
‘What eyleth yow so rathe for to ryse?’
‘Nece,’ quod he, ‘it oghte y-nough suffyse 1290
Fyve houres for to slepe up-on a night, (101)
[170: T. 13032-13066.]
But it were for an old appalled wight,
As been thise wedded men, that lye and dare
As in a forme sit a wery hare,
Were al for-straught with houndes grete and smale. 1295
But dere nece, why be ye so pale?
I trowe certes that our gode man
Hath yow laboured sith the night bigan,
That yow were nede to resten hastily?’
And with that word he lough ful merily, 1300
And of his owene thought he wex al reed. (111)
1294. E. fourme; _rest_ forme. 1300. E. murily. 1301. E. Cp. wax.
This faire wyf gan for to shake hir heed,
And seyde thus, ‘ye, god wot al,’ quod she;
‘Nay, cosin myn, it stant nat so with me.
For, by that god that yaf me soule and lyf, 1305
In al the reme of France is ther no wyf
That lasse lust hath to that sory pley.
For I may singe “allas” and “weylawey,
That I was born,” but to no wight,’ quod she,
‘Dar I nat telle how that it stant with me. 1310
Wherfore I thinke out of this land to wende, (121)
Or elles of my-self to make an ende,
So ful am I of drede and eek of care.’
1304. E. _repeats_ nay. 1306. Cp. Pt. rewme; Hl. Ln. reme; E. Hn.
Reawme; _see_ B. 4326.
This monk bigan up-on this wyf to stare,
And seyde, ‘allas, my nece, god forbede 1315
That ye, for any sorwe or any drede,
Fordo your-self; but telleth me your grief;
Paraventure I may, in your meschief,
Conseille or helpe, and therfore telleth me
Al your anoy, for it shal been secree; 1320
For on my porthors here I make an ooth, (131)
That never in my lyf, for lief ne looth,
Ne shal I of no conseil yow biwreye.’
1317. Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. telleth; E. tel. E. me of; Cp. Ln.
forth; _rest_ me. 1318. E. I yow may; _rest om._ yow. 1321. Cm.
here; _rest_ om.
‘The same agayn to yow,’ quod she, ‘I seye;
By god and by this porthors, I yow swere, 1325
Though men me wolde al in-to peces tere,
[171: T. 13067-13103.]
Ne shal I never, for to goon to helle,
Biwreye a word of thing that ye me telle,
Nat for no cosinage ne alliance,
But verraily, for love and affiance.’ 1330
Thus been they sworn, and heer-upon they kiste, (141)
And ech of hem tolde other what hem liste.
1326. E. pieces; _rest_ peces, peeces.
‘Cosin,’ quod she, ‘if that I hadde a space,
As I have noon, and namely in this place,
Than wolde I telle a legende of my lyf, 1335
What I have suffred sith I was a wyf
With myn housbonde, al be he your cosyn.’
1335. E. Thanne. 1337. your cosyn] E. of youre kyn.
‘Nay,’ quod this monk, ‘by god and seint Martyn,
He is na more cosin un-to me
Than is this leef that hangeth on the tree! 1340
I clepe him so, by Seint Denys of Fraunce, (151)
To have the more cause of aqueintaunce
Of yow, which I have loved specially
Aboven alle wommen sikerly;
This swere I yow on my professioun. 1345
Telleth your grief, lest that he come adoun,
And hasteth yow, and gooth your wey anon.’
1338. and] E. Cp. Pt. Ln. and by. 1340. E. lief.
‘My dere love,’ quod she, ‘o my daun Iohn,
Ful lief were me this conseil for to hyde,
But out it moot, I may namore abyde. 1350
Myn housbond is to me the worste man (161)
That ever was, sith that the world bigan.
But sith I am a wyf, it sit nat me
To tellen no wight of our privetee,
Neither a bedde, ne in non other place; 1355
God shilde I sholde it tellen, for his grace!
A wyf ne shal nat seyn of hir housbonde
But al honour, as I can understonde;
Save un-to yow thus muche I tellen shal;
As help me god, he is noght worth at al 1360
In no degree the value of a flye. (171)
But yet me greveth most his nigardye;
And wel ye woot that wommen naturelly
[172: T. 13104-13140.]
Desyren thinges sixe, as wel as I.
They wolde that hir housbondes sholde be 1365
Hardy, and wyse, and riche, and ther-to free,
And buxom to his wyf, and fresh a-bedde.
But, by that ilke lord that for us bledde,
For his honour, my-self for to arraye,
A Sonday next, I moste nedes paye 1370
An hundred frankes, or elles am I lorn. (181)
Yet were me lever that I were unborn
Than me were doon a sclaundre or vileinye;
And if myn housbond eek it mighte espye,
I nere but lost, and therfore I yow preye 1375
Lene me this somme, or elles moot I deye.
Daun Iohn, I seye, lene me thise hundred frankes;
Pardee, I wol nat faille yow my thankes,
If that yow list to doon that I yow praye.
For at a certein day I wol yow paye, 1380
And doon to yow what plesance and servyce (191)
That I may doon, right as yow list devyse.
And but I do, god take on me vengeance
As foul as ever had Geniloun of France!’
1351. E. housbonde. 1355. Hl. _om._ 1367. to] E. Hn. Cm. unto.
1371, 1376. E. ellis. 1371. E. Ln. Hl. I am; _rest_ am I. 1374. E.
housbonde. 1376-9. Hl. _omits_. 1384. E. hadde.
This gentil monk answerde in this manere; 1385
‘Now, trewely, myn owene lady dere,
I have,’ quod he, ‘on yow so greet a routhe,
That I yow swere and plighte yow my trouthe,
That whan your housbond is to Flaundres fare,
I wol delivere yow out of this care; 1390
For I wol bringe yow an hundred frankes.’ (201)
And with that word he caughte hir by the flankes,
And hir embraceth harde, and kiste hir ofte.
‘Goth now your wey,’ quod he, ‘al stille and softe,
And lat us dyne as sone as that ye may; 1395
For by my chilindre it is pryme of day.
Goth now, and beeth as trewe as I shal be.’
1389. E. housbonde.
‘Now, elles god forbede, sire,’ quod she,
And forth she gooth, as Iolif as a pye,
And bad the cokes that they sholde hem hye, 1400
[173: T. 13141-13176.]
So that men mighte dyne, and that anon. (211)
Up to hir housbonde is this wyf y-gon,
And knokketh at his countour boldely.
‘_Qui la_?’ quod he. ‘Peter! it am I,’
Quod she, ‘what, sire, how longe wol ye faste? 1405
How longe tyme wol ye rekene and caste
Your sommes, and your bokes, and your thinges?
The devel have part of alle swiche rekeninges!
Ye have y-nough, pardee, of goddes sonde;
Come doun to-day, and lat your bagges stonde. 1410
Ne be ye nat ashamed that daun Iohn (221)
Shal fasting al this day elenge goon?
What! lat us here a messe, and go we dyne.’
1404. E. Hn. Who ther (_with_ Qi la _in margin_); Hl. Qy la; Cp. Pt.
Quy la; Ln. Que la. 1408. Hl. Cm. of; _rest_ on. 1412. E. Cm.
alenge; _rest_ elenge. 1413. E. _om._ What.
‘Wyf,’ quod this man, ‘litel canstow devyne
The curious bisinesse that we have. 1415
For of us chapmen, al-so god me save,
And by that lord that cleped is Seint Yve,
Scarsly amonges twelve ten shul thryve,
Continuelly, lastinge un-to our age.
We may wel make chere and good visage, 1420
And dryve forth the world as it may be, (231)
And kepen our estaat in privetee,
Til we be deed, or elles that we pleye
A pilgrimage, or goon out of the weye.
And therfor have I greet necessitee 1425
Up-on this queinte world tavyse me;
For evermore we mote stonde in drede
Of hap and fortune in our chapmanhede.
1417. E. clepid. 1418. E. xij. 1420. E. chiere. 1426. E. Hn. Cm.
tauyse; _rest_ to auyse.
To Flaundres wol I go to-morwe at day,
And come agayn, as sone as ever I may. 1430
For which, my dere wyf, I thee biseke, (241)
As be to every wight buxom and meke,
And for to kepe our good be curious,
And honestly governe wel our hous.
Thou hast y-nough, in every maner wyse, 1435
That to a thrifty houshold may suffyse.
[174: T. 13177-13214.]
Thee lakketh noon array ne no vitaille,
Of silver in thy purs shaltow nat faille.’
And with that word his countour-dore he shette,
And doun he gooth, no lenger wolde he lette, 1440
But hastily a messe was ther seyd, (251)
And spedily the tables were y-leyd,
And to the diner faste they hem spedde;
And richely this monk the chapman fedde.
1441. E. Hn. But; _rest_ And.
At-after diner daun Iohn sobrely 1445
This chapman took a-part, and prively
He seyde him thus, ‘cosyn, it standeth so,
That wel I see to Brugges wol ye go.
God and seint Austin spede yow and gyde!
I prey yow, cosin, wysly that ye ryde; 1450
Governeth yow also of your diete (261)
Atemprely, and namely in this hete.
Bitwix us two nedeth no strange fare;
Fare-wel, cosyn; god shilde yow fro care.
If any thing ther be by day or night, 1455
If it lye in my power and my might,
That ye me wol comande in any wyse,
It shal be doon, right as ye wol devyse.
1445. E. Hn. Cm. At; _rest_ And. 1455. E. Hn. And if that any thyng
by day or night.
O thing, er that ye goon, if it may be,
I wolde prey yow; for to lene me 1460
An hundred frankes, for a wyke or tweye, (271)
For certein beestes that I moste beye,
To store with a place that is oures.
God help me so, I wolde it were youres!
I shal nat faille surely of my day, 1465
Nat for a thousand frankes, a myle-way.
But lat this thing be secree, I yow preye,
For yet to-night thise beestes moot I beye;
And fare-now wel, myn owene cosin dere,
Graunt mercy of your cost and of your chere.’ 1470
1465. E. at; _rest_ of.
This noble marchant gentilly anon (281)
Answerde, and seyde, ‘o cosin myn, daun Iohn,
Now sikerly this is a smal requeste;
My gold is youres, whan that it yow leste.
[175: T. 13215-13250.]
And nat only my gold, but my chaffare; 1475
Take what yow list, god shilde that ye spare.
But o thing is, ye knowe it wel y-nogh,
Of chapmen, that hir moneye is hir plogh.
We may creaunce whyl we have a name,
But goldlees for to be, it is no game. 1480
Paye it agayn whan it lyth in your ese; (291)
After my might ful fayn wolde I yow plese.’
1479. Cm. encrece (_for_ creaunce).
Thise hundred frankes he fette forth anon,
And prively he took hem to daun Iohn.
No wight in al this world wiste of this lone, 1485
Savinge this marchant and daun Iohn allone.
They drinke, and speke, and rome a whyle and pleye,
Til that daun Iohn rydeth to his abbeye.
1483. E. fette hyrn forth; _rest om._ hym.
The morwe cam, and forth this marchant rydeth
To Flaundres-ward; his prentis wel him gydeth, 1490
Til he cam in-to Brugges merily. (301)
Now gooth this marchant faste and bisily
Aboute his nede, and byeth and creaunceth.
He neither pleyeth at the dees ne daunceth;
But as a marchant, shortly for to telle, 1495
He let his lyf, and there I lete him dwelle.
1491. E. Hn. murily. 1494. E. Cm. _om._ the. 1496. E. Hn. let; Cm.
lat; Hl. Pt. lad; Cp. leet; Ln. leteþ (let = ledeth).
The Sonday next this Marchant was agon,
To Seint Denys y-comen is daun Iohn,
With crowne and berd all fresh and newe y-shave.
In al the hous ther nas so litel a knave, 1500
Ne no wight elles, that he nas ful fayn, (311)
For that my lord daun Iohn was come agayn.
And shortly to the point right for to gon,
This faire wyf accorded with daun Iohn,
That for thise hundred frankes he sholde al night 1505
Have hir in his armes bolt-upright;
And this acord parfourned was in dede.
In mirthe al night a bisy lyf they lede
Til it was day, that daun Iohn wente his way,
And bad the meynee ‘fare-wel, have good day!’ 1510
[176: T. 13251-13287.]
For noon of hem, ne no wight in the toun, (321)
Hath of daun Iohn right no suspecioun.
And forth he rydeth hoom to his abbeye,
Or where him list; namore of him I seye.
1502. E. Hn. Cm. _om._ For. 1503. E. right to the point. 1506. E.
hise.
This marchant, whan that ended was the faire, 1515
To Seint Denys he gan for to repaire,
And with his wyf he maketh feste and chere,
And telleth hir that chaffare is so dere,
That nedes moste he make a chevisaunce.
For he was bounde in a reconissaunce 1520
To paye twenty thousand sheeld anon. (331)
For which this marchant is to Paris gon,
To borwe of certein frendes that he hadde
A certein frankes; and somme with him he ladde.
And whan that he was come in-to the toun, 1525
For greet chertee and greet affeccioun,
Un-to daun Iohn he gooth him first, to pleye;
Nat for to axe or borwe of him moneye,
But for to wite and seen of his welfare,
And for to tellen him of his chaffare, 1530
As freendes doon whan they ben met y-fere. (341)
Daun Iohn him maketh feste and mery chere;
And he him tolde agayn ful specially,
How he hadde wel y-boght and graciously,
Thanked be god, al hool his marchandyse. 1535
Save that he moste, in alle maner wyse,
Maken a chevisaunce, as for his beste,
And thanne he sholde been in Ioye and reste.
1517, 1532. E. feeste. 1519, 1537. E. cheuyssau_n_ce. 1520. Hl.
bounde; _rest_ bounden. 1526. Pt. cheertee; Ln. chere; _rest_
chiertee. 1532. E. murye.
Daun Iohn answerde, ‘certes, I am fayn
That ye in hele ar comen hoom agayn. 1540
And if that I were riche, as have I blisse, (351)
Of twenty thousand sheeld shold ye nat misse,
For ye so kindely this other day
Lente me gold; and as I can and may,
I thanke yow, by god and by seint Iame! 1545
But nathelees I took un-to our dame,
Your wyf at hoom, the same gold ageyn
[177: T. 13288-13323.]
Upon your bench; she woot it wel, certeyn,
By certein tokenes that I can hir telle.
Now, by your leve, I may no lenger dwelle, 1550
Our abbot wol out of this toun anon; (361)
And in his companye moot I gon.
Grete wel our dame, myn owene nece swete,
And fare-wel, dere cosin, til we mete!’
1540. ar] Cp. Pt. Ln. be. 1549. E. Hn. Cm. yow; _rest_ hir.
This Marchant, which that was ful war and wys, 1555
Creaunced hath, and payd eek in Parys,
To certeyn Lumbardes, redy in hir hond,
The somme of gold, and gat of hem his bond;
And hoom he gooth, mery as a papeiay.
For wel he knew he stood in swich array, 1560
That nedes moste he winne in that viage (371)
A thousand frankes above al his costage.
1558. E. hadde; Hl. took; _rest_ gat. _Over_ bond _is the
gloss_—obligacionem. 1559. E. murie. E. papeiay; _rest_ papyniay,
popiniay. 1562. E. Hn. Cm. Cp. abouen; _rest_ aboue.
His wyf ful redy mette him atte gate,
As she was wont of old usage algate,
And al that night in mirthe they bisette; 1565
For he was riche and cleerly out of dette.
Whan it was day, this marchant gan embrace
His wyf al newe, and kiste hir on hir face,
And up he gooth and maketh it ful tough.
‘Namore,’ quod she, ‘by god, ye have y-nough!’ 1570
And wantounly agayn with him she pleyde; (381)
Til, atte laste, that this Marchant seyde,
‘By god,’ quod he, ‘I am a litel wrooth
With yow, my wyf, al-thogh it be me looth.
And woot ye why? by god, as that I gesse, 1575
That ye han maad a maner straungenesse
Bitwixen me and my cosyn daun Iohn.
Ye sholde han warned me, er I had gon,
That he yow hadde an hundred frankes payed
By redy tokene; and heeld him yvel apayed, 1580
For that I to him spak of chevisaunce, (391)
Me semed so, as by his contenaunce.
But nathelees, by god our hevene king,
[178: T. 13324-13359.]
I thoghte nat to axe of him no-thing.
I prey thee, wyf, ne do namore so; 1585
Tel me alwey, er that I fro thee go,
If any dettour hath in myn absence
Y-payëd thee; lest, thurgh thy necligence,
I mighte him axe a thing that he hath payed.’
1571. E. wantownely. 1572. Cp. Pt. þat; Hl. þus; _rest om._ 1574.
E. were; _rest_ be. 1584. E. axen; _rest_ axe. E. Hl. _om._ of.
1585. E. as; Hl. _om._; _rest_ ne. 1586. Hn. Hl. Tel; Ln. Til; _rest_
Telle.
This wyf was nat afered nor affrayed, 1590
But boldely she seyde, and that anon: (401)
‘Marie, I defye the false monk, daun Iohn!
I kepe nat of hise tokenes never a deel;
He took me certein gold, that woot I weel!
What! yvel thedom on his monkes snoute! 1595
For, god it woot, I wende, withouten doute,
That he had yeve it me bycause of yow,
To doon ther-with myn honour and my prow,
For cosinage, and eek for bele chere
That he hath had ful ofte tymes here. 1600
But sith I see I stonde in this disioint, (411)
I wol answere yow shortly, to the point.
Ye han mo slakker dettours than am I!
For I wol paye yow wel and redily
Fro day to day; and, if so be I faille, 1605
I am your wyf; score it up-on my taille,
And I shal paye, as sone as ever I may.
For, by my trouthe, I have on myn array,
And nat on wast, bistowed every deel.
And for I have bistowed it so weel 1610
For your honour, for goddes sake, I seye, (421)
As be nat wrooth, but lat us laughe and pleye.
Ye shal my Ioly body have to wedde;
By god, I wol nat paye yow but a-bedde.
Forgive it me, myn owene spouse dere; 1615
Turne hiderward and maketh bettre chere.’
1592. Cm. defye; _rest_ deffie. 1595. E. Hn. Cp. thedam. 1597. E.
hadde. 1599. E. beele; Cm. beel; _rest_ bele. 1601. E. Hn. Hl.
this; _rest_ suche, such. 1611. E. Hn. For; _rest_ To.
This marchant saugh ther was no remedye,
And, for to chyde, it nere but greet folye,
Sith that the thing may nat amended be.
[179: T. 13360-13364.]
‘Now, wyf,’ he seyde, ‘and I foryeve it thee; 1620
But, by thy lyf, ne be namore so large; (431)
Keep bet our good, this yeve I thee in charge.’
Thus endeth now my tale, and god us sende
Taling y-nough un-to our lyves ende. Amen.
=Here endeth the Shipmannes Tale.=
1622. E. that; _rest_ this. 1623. E. Hn. _om._ now. 1624. Cm.
Talynge; Hl. Talyng; E. Hn. Pt. Taillynge; Cp. Ln. Toylyng(!).
COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn. Cp. Pt.
[180: T. 13365-13382.]
* * * * *