Geoffrey Chaucer

“ Free was daun Iohn, and namely of dispence,
As in that hous; and ful of diligence
To doon plesaunce, and also greet costage. 1235
He noght forgat to yeve the leeste page
In al that hous; but, after hir degree,
He yaf the lord, and sitthe al his meynee,
When that he cam, som maner honest thing;
For which they were as glad of his coming 1240
As fowel is fayn, whan that the sonne up-ryseth. (51)
Na more of this as now, for it suffyseth.
But so bifel, this marchant on a day
Shoop him to make redy his array
Toward the toun of Brugges for to fare, 1245
To byën ther a porcioun of ware ”

“ Hath of daun Iohn right no suspecioun.
And forth he rydeth hoom to his abbeye,
Or where him list; namore of him I seye.
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. ”

“ 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)
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? ”

“ 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? ”

“ 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!'
This gentil monk answerde in this manere ”

“ 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.'
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.
The morwe cam, and forth this marchant rydeth
To Flaundres-ward; his prentis wel him gydeth, 1490
Til he cam in-to Brugges merily. ”

“ This marchant saugh ther was no remedye,
And, for to chyde, it nere but greet folye,
Sith that the thing may nat amended be.
'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.
Variae Lectiones, etc.
1163-1190. From Cp., collated with Hl. Pt. Ln. Seld. Royal, and Sloane; E. Hn. Cm. omit.—1164. Cp. herkeneth; Hl. herkneth.—1174. Cp. herkeneth; Hl. herkneth.—1174. Hl. Now ”

“ The Persone him answerde, 'benedicite! 1170
What eyleth the man, so sinfully to swere?'
Our hoste answerde, 'O Iankin, be ye there? (10)
I smelle a loller in the wind,' quod he.
'How! good men,' quod our hoste, 'herkneth me ”