T. 9121-9147.]
E. THE MARCHANTES TALE.
427
THE MARCHANTES TALE.
Here biginneth the Marchantes Tale.[1]
1245WHYLOM ther was dwellinge in Lumbardye
A worthy knight, that born was of[2] Pavye,
In which he lived in greet prosperitee;
And sixty yeer a wyflees man was he,
And folwed ay his bodily delyt
1250On wommen, ther-as was his appetyt,
As doon thise foles that ben seculeer.
And whan that he was passed sixty yeer,
Were it for holinesse or for dotage,
(10)I can nat seye, but swich a greet corage
1255Hadde this knight to been a wedded man,
That day and night he dooth al that he can
Tespyen where he mighte wedded be;
Preyinge our lord to granten him, that he
Mighte ones knowe of thilke blisful lyf
1260That is bitwixe an housbond and his wyf;
And for to live under that holy bond
With which that first god man and womman bond,
'Non other lyf,' seyde he, 'is worth a bene;
(20)For wedlok is so esy and so clene,
1265That in this world it is a paradys.'
Thus seyde this olde knight, that was so wys.
And certeinly, as sooth as god is king,
To take a wyf, it is a glorious thing,
And namely whan a man is old and hoor;
1270Thanne is a wyf the fruit of his tresor.
Than[3] sholde he take a yong wyf and a feir,
A worthy knight, that born was of[2] Pavye,
In which he lived in greet prosperitee;
And sixty yeer a wyflees man was he,
And folwed ay his bodily delyt
1250On wommen, ther-as was his appetyt,
As doon thise foles that ben seculeer.
And whan that he was passed sixty yeer,
Were it for holinesse or for dotage,
(10)I can nat seye, but swich a greet corage
1255Hadde this knight to been a wedded man,
That day and night he dooth al that he can
Tespyen where he mighte wedded be;
Preyinge our lord to granten him, that he
Mighte ones knowe of thilke blisful lyf
1260That is bitwixe an housbond and his wyf;
And for to live under that holy bond
With which that first god man and womman bond,
'Non other lyf,' seyde he, 'is worth a bene;
(20)For wedlok is so esy and so clene,
1265That in this world it is a paradys.'
Thus seyde this olde knight, that was so wys.
And certeinly, as sooth as god is king,
To take a wyf, it is a glorious thing,
And namely whan a man is old and hoor;
1270Thanne is a wyf the fruit of his tresor.
Than[3] sholde he take a yong wyf and a feir,
