"The Merchant's Prologue" courtesy Gerard NeCastro, University of Maine at Machias. The Merchant's Prologue (Middle English) MerT 1213 "Wepyng and waylyng, care and oother sorwe MerT 1214 I knowe ynogh, on even and a-morwe," MerT 1215 Quod the Marchant, "and so doon other mo MerT 1216 That wedded been. I trowe that it be so, MerT 1217 For wel I woot it fareth so with me. MerT 1218 I have a wyf, the worste that may be; MerT 1219 For thogh the feend to hire ycoupled were, MerT 1220 She wolde hym overmacche, I dar wel swere. MerT 1221 What sholde I yow reherce in special MerT 1222 Hir hye malice? She is a shrewe at al. MerT 1223 Ther is a long and large difference MerT 1224 Bitwix Grisildis grete pacience MerT 1225 And of my wyf the passyng crueltee. MerT 1226 Were I unbounden, also moot I thee, MerT 1227 I wolde nevere eft comen in the snare. MerT 1228 We wedded men lyven in sorwe and care. MerT 1229 Assaye whoso wole, and he shal fynde MerT 1230 That I seye sooth, by Seint Thomas of Ynde, MerT 1231 As for the moore part -- I sey nat alle. MerT 1232 God shilde that it sholde so bifalle! MerT 1233 "A, goode sire Hoost, I have ywedded bee MerT 1234 Thise monthes two, and moore nat, pardee; MerT 1235 And yet, I trowe, he that al his lyve MerT 1236 Wyflees hath been, though that men wolde him ryve MerT 1237 Unto the herte, ne koude in no manere MerT 1238 Tellen so muchel sorwe as I now heere |
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