MerT 1297 As for to spare in houshold thy dispence.
MerT 1298 A trewe servant dooth moore diligence
MerT 1299 Thy good to kepe than thyn owene wyf,
MerT 1300 For she wol clayme half part al hir lyf.
MerT 1301 And if thou be syk, so God me save,
MerT 1302 Thy verray freendes, or a trewe knave,
MerT 1303 Wol kepe thee bet than she that waiteth ay
MerT 1304 After thy good and hath doon many a day.
MerT 1305 And if thou take a wyf unto thyn hoold
MerT 1306 Ful lightly maystow been a cokewold."
MerT 1307 This sentence, and an hundred thynges worse,
MerT 1308 Writeth this man, ther God his bones corse!
MerT 1309 But take no kep of al swich vanytee;
MerT 1310 Deffie Theofraste, and herke me.
MerT 1311 A wyf is Goddes yifte verraily;
MerT 1312 Alle othere manere yiftes hardily,
MerT 1313 As londes, rentes, pasture, or commune,
MerT 1314 Or moebles -- alle been yiftes of Fortune
MerT 1315 That passen as a shadwe upon a wal.
MerT 1316 But drede nat, if pleynly speke I shal:
MerT 1317 A wyf wol laste, and in thyn hous endure,
MerT 1318 Wel lenger than thee list, paraventure.
MerT 1319 Mariage is a ful greet sacrement.
MerT 1320 He which that hath no wyf, I holde hym shent;
MerT 1321 He lyveth helplees and al desolat --
MerT 1322 I speke of folk in seculer estaat.
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