MerT 1271 Thanne sholde he take a yong wyf and a feir,
MerT 1272 On which he myghte engendren hym an heir,
MerT 1273 And lede his lyf in joye and in solas,
MerT 1274 Where as thise bacheleris synge "allas,"
MerT 1275 Whan that they fynden any adversitee
MerT 1276 In love, which nys but childyssh vanytee.
MerT 1277 And trewely it sit wel to be so,
MerT 1278 That bacheleris have often peyne and wo;
MerT 1279 On brotel ground they buylde, and brotelnesse
MerT 1280 They fynde whan they wene sikernesse.
MerT 1281 They lyve but as a bryd or as a beest,
MerT 1282 In libertee and under noon arreest,
MerT 1283 Ther as a wedded man in his estaat
MerT 1284 Lyveth a lyf blisful and ordinaat
MerT 1285 Under this yok of mariage ybounde.
MerT 1286 Wel may his herte in joy and blisse habounde,
MerT 1287 For who kan be so buxom as a wyf?
MerT 1288 Who is so trewe, and eek so ententyf
MerT 1289 To kepe hym, syk and hool, as is his make?
MerT 1290 For wele or wo she wole hym nat forsake;
MerT 1291 She nys nat wery hym to love and serve,
MerT 1292 Though that he lye bedrede til he sterve.
MerT 1293 And yet somme clerkes seyn it nys nat so,
MerT 1294 Of whiche he Theofraste is oon of tho.
MerT 1295 What force though Theofraste liste lye?
MerT 1296 "Ne take no wyf," quod he, "for housbondrye,
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