| Our Host upon his stirrups stood anon, |
| And saide; "Good men, hearken every one, |
| This was a thrifty* tale for the nones. *discreet, profitable |
| Sir Parish Priest," quoth he, "for Godde's bones, |
| Tell us a tale, as was thy *forword yore:* *promise formerly* |
| I see well that ye learned men in lore |
| Can* muche good, by Godde's dignity." *know |
| The Parson him answer'd, "Ben'dicite! |
| What ails the man, so sinfully to swear?" |
| Our Host answer'd, "O Jankin, be ye there? |
| Now, good men," quoth our Host, "hearken to me. |
| I smell a Lollard <2> in the wind," quoth he. |
| "Abide, for Godde's digne* passion, *worthy |
| For we shall have a predication: |
| This Lollard here will preachen us somewhat." |
| "Nay, by my father's soul, that shall he not, |
| Saide the Shipman; "Here shall he not preach, |
| He shall no gospel glose* here nor teach. *comment upon |
| We all believe in the great God," quoth he. |
| "He woulde sowe some difficulty, |
| Or springe cockle <3> in our cleane corn. |
| And therefore, Host, I warne thee beforn, |
| My jolly body shall a tale tell, |
| And I shall clinke you so merry a bell, |
| That I shall waken all this company; |
| But it shall not be of philosophy, |
| Nor of physic, nor termes quaint of law; |
| There is but little Latin in my maw."* *belly |
| A Merchant whilom dwell'd at Saint Denise, |
| That riche was, for which men held him wise. |
| A wife he had of excellent beauty, |
| And *companiable and revellous* was she, *fond of society and |
| Which is a thing that causeth more dispence merry making* |
| Than worth is all the cheer and reverence |
| That men them do at feastes and at dances. |
| Such salutations and countenances |
| Passen, as doth the shadow on the wall; |
| Put woe is him that paye must for all. |
| The sely* husband algate** he must pay, *innocent **always |
| He must us <2> clothe and he must us array |
| All for his owen worship richely: |
| In which array we dance jollily. |
| And if that he may not, paraventure, |
| Or elles list not such dispence endure, |
| But thinketh it is wasted and y-lost, |
| Then must another paye for our cost, |
| Or lend us gold, and that is perilous. |
| This noble merchant held a noble house; |
| For which he had all day so great repair,* *resort of visitors |
| For his largesse, and for his wife was fair, |
| That wonder is; but hearken to my tale. |
| Amonges all these guestes great and smale, |
| There was a monk, a fair man and a bold, |
| I trow a thirty winter he was old, |
| That ever-in-one* was drawing to that place. *constantly |
| This younge monk, that was so fair of face, |
| Acquainted was so with this goode man, |
| Since that their firste knowledge began, |
| That in his house as familiar was he |
| As it is possible any friend to be. |
| And, for as muchel as this goode man, |
| And eke this monk of which that I began, |
| Were both the two y-born in one village, |
| The monk *him claimed, as for cousinage,* *claimed kindred |
| And he again him said not once nay, with him* |
| But was as glad thereof as fowl of day; |
| "For to his heart it was a great pleasance. |
| Thus be they knit with etern' alliance, |
| And each of them gan other to assure |
| Of brotherhood while that their life may dure. |
| Free was Dan <3> John, and namely* of dispence,** *especially **spending |
| As in that house, and full of diligence |
| To do pleasance, and also *great costage;* *liberal outlay* |
| He not forgot to give the leaste page |
| In all that house; but, after their degree, |
| He gave the lord, and sithen* his meinie,** *afterwards **servants |
| When that he came, some manner honest thing; |
| For which they were as glad of his coming |
| As fowl is fain when that the sun upriseth. |
| No more of this as now, for it sufficeth. |
| But so befell, this merchant on a day |
| Shope* him to make ready his array *resolved, arranged |
| Toward the town of Bruges <4> for to fare, |
| To buye there a portion of ware;* *merchandise |
| For which he hath to Paris sent anon |
| A messenger, and prayed hath Dan John |
| That he should come to Saint Denis, and play* *enjoy himself |
| With him, and with his wife, a day or tway, |
| Ere he to Bruges went, in alle wise. |
| This noble monk, of which I you devise,* *tell |
| Had of his abbot, as him list, licence, |
| (Because he was a man of high prudence, |
| And eke an officer out for to ride, |
| To see their granges and their barnes wide); <5> |
| And unto Saint Denis he came anon. |
| Who was so welcome as my lord Dan John, |
| Our deare cousin, full of courtesy? |
| With him he brought a jub* of malvesie, *jug |
| And eke another full of fine vernage, <6> |
| And volatile,* as aye was his usage: *wild-fowl |
| And thus I let them eat, and drink, and play, |
| This merchant and this monk, a day or tway. |
| The thirde day the merchant up ariseth, |
| And on his needeis sadly him adviseth; |
| And up into his countour-house* went he, *counting-house <7> |
| To reckon with himself as well may be, |
| Of thilke* year, how that it with him stood, *that |
| And how that he dispended bad his good, |
| And if that he increased were or non. |
| His bookes and his bagges many a one |
| He laid before him on his counting-board. |
| Full riche was his treasure and his hoard; |
| For which full fast his countour door he shet; |
| And eke he would that no man should him let* *hinder |
| Of his accountes, for the meane time: |
| And thus he sat, till it was passed prime. |
| Dan John was risen in the morn also, |
| And in the garden walked to and fro, |
| And had his thinges said full courteously. |
| The good wife came walking full privily |
| Into the garden, where he walked soft, |
| And him saluted, as she had done oft; |
| A maiden child came in her company, |
| Which as her list she might govern and gie,* *guide |
| For yet under the yarde* was the maid. *rod <8> |
| "O deare cousin mine, Dan John," she said, |
| "What aileth you so rath* for to arise?" *early |
| "Niece," quoth he, "it ought enough suffice |
| Five houres for to sleep upon a night;' |
| But* it were for an old appalled** wight, *unless **pallid, wasted |
| As be these wedded men, that lie and dare,* *stare |
| As in a forme sits a weary hare, |
| Alle forstraught* with houndes great and smale; *distracted, confounded |
| But, deare niece, why be ye so pale? |
| I trowe certes that our goode man |
| Hath you so laboured, since this night began, |
| That you were need to reste hastily." |
| And with that word he laugh'd full merrily, |
| And of his owen thought he wax'd all red. |
| This faire wife gan for to shake her head, |
| And saide thus; "Yea, God wot all" quoth she. |
| "Nay, cousin mine, it stands not so with me; |
| For by that God, that gave me soul and life, |
| In all the realm of France is there no wife |
| That lesse lust hath to that sorry play; |
| For I may sing alas and well-away! |
| That I was born; but to no wight," quoth she, |
| "Dare I not tell how that it stands with me. |
| Wherefore I think out of this land to wend, |
| Or elles of myself to make an end, |
| So full am I of dread and eke of care." |
| This monk began upon this wife to stare, |
| And said, "Alas! my niece, God forbid |
| That ye for any sorrow, or any dread, |
| Fordo* yourself: but telle me your grief, *destroy |
| Paraventure I may, in your mischief,* *distress |
| Counsel or help; and therefore telle me |
| All your annoy, for it shall be secre. |
| For on my portos* here I make an oath, *breviary |
| That never in my life, *for lief nor loth,* *willing or unwilling* |
| Ne shall I of no counsel you bewray." |
| "The same again to you," quoth she, "I say. |
| By God and by this portos I you swear, |
| Though men me woulden all in pieces tear, |
| Ne shall I never, for* to go to hell, *though I should |
| Bewray* one word of thing that ye me tell, *betray |
| For no cousinage, nor alliance, |
| But verily for love and affiance."* *confidence, promise |
| Thus be they sworn, and thereupon they kiss'd, |
| And each of them told other what them list. |
| "Cousin," quoth she, "if that I hadde space, |
| As I have none, and namely* in this place, *specially |
| Then would I tell a legend of my life, |
| What I have suffer'd since I was a wife |
| With mine husband, all* be he your cousin. *although |
| "Nay," quoth this monk, "by God and Saint Martin, |
| He is no more cousin unto me, |
| Than is the leaf that hangeth on the tree; |
| I call him so, by Saint Denis of France, |
| To have the more cause of acquaintance |
| Of you, which I have loved specially |
| Aboven alle women sickerly,* *surely |
| This swear I you *on my professioun;* *by my vows of religion |
| Tell me your grief, lest that he come adown, |
| And hasten you, and go away anon." |
| "My deare love," quoth she, "O my Dan John, |
| Full lief* were me this counsel for to hide, *pleasant |
| But out it must, I may no more abide. |
| My husband is to me the worste man |
| That ever was since that the world began; |
| But since I am a wife, it sits* not me *becomes |
| To telle no wight of our privity, |
| Neither in bed, nor in none other place; |
| God shield* I shoulde tell it for his grace; *forbid |
| A wife shall not say of her husband |
| But all honour, as I can understand; |
| Save unto you thus much I telle shall; |
| As help me God, he is nought worth at all |
| In no degree, the value of a fly. |
| But yet me grieveth most his niggardy.* *stinginess |
| And well ye wot, that women naturally |
| Desire thinges six, as well as I. |
| They woulde that their husbands shoulde be |
| Hardy,* and wise, and rich, and thereto free, *brave |
| And buxom* to his wife, and fresh in bed. *yielding, obedient |
| But, by that ilke* Lord that for us bled, *same |
| For his honour myself for to array, |
| On Sunday next I muste needes pay |
| A hundred francs, or elles am I lorn.* *ruined, undone |
| Yet *were me lever* that I were unborn, *I would rather* |
| Than me were done slander or villainy. |
| And if mine husband eke might it espy, |
| I were but lost; and therefore I you pray, |
| Lend me this sum, or elles must I dey.* *die |
| Dan John, I say, lend me these hundred francs; |
| Pardie, I will not faile you, *my thanks,* *if I can help it* |
| If that you list to do that I you pray; |
| For at a certain day I will you pay, |
| And do to you what pleasance and service |
| That I may do, right as you list devise. |
| And but* I do, God take on me vengeance, *unless |
| As foul as e'er had Ganilion <9> of France." |
| This gentle monk answer'd in this mannere; |
| "Now truely, mine owen lady dear, |
| I have," quoth he, "on you so greate ruth,* *pity |
| That I you swear, and plighte you my truth, |
| That when your husband is to Flanders fare,* *gone |
| I will deliver you out of this care, |
| For I will bringe you a hundred francs." |
| And with that word he caught her by the flanks, |
| And her embraced hard, and kissed her oft. |
| "Go now your way," quoth he, "all still and soft, |
| And let us dine as soon as that ye may, |
| For by my cylinder* 'tis prime of day; *portable sundial |
| Go now, and be as true as I shall be ." |
| "Now elles God forbidde, Sir," quoth she; |
| And forth she went, as jolly as a pie, |
| And bade the cookes that they should them hie,* *make haste |
| So that men mighte dine, and that anon. |
| Up to her husband is this wife gone, |
| And knocked at his contour boldely. |
| *"Qui est la?"* quoth he. "Peter! it am I," *who is there?* |
| Quoth she; "What, Sir, how longe all will ye fast? |
| How longe time will ye reckon and cast |
| Your summes, and your bookes, and your things? |
| The devil have part of all such reckonings! |
| Ye have enough, pardie, of Godde's sond.* *sending, gifts |
| Come down to-day, and let your bagges stond.* *stand |
| Ne be ye not ashamed, that Dan John |
| Shall fasting all this day elenge* gon? *see note <10> |
| What? let us hear a mass, and go we dine." |
| "Wife," quoth this man, "little canst thou divine |
| The curious businesse that we have; |
| For of us chapmen,* all so God me save, *merchants |
| And by that lord that cleped is Saint Ive, |
| Scarcely amonges twenty, ten shall thrive |
| Continually, lasting unto our age. |
| We may well make cheer and good visage, |
| And drive forth the world as it may be, |
| And keepen our estate in privity, |
| Till we be dead, or elles that we play |
| A pilgrimage, or go out of the way. |
| And therefore have I great necessity |
| Upon this quaint* world to advise** me. *strange **consider |
| For evermore must we stand in dread |
| Of hap and fortune in our chapmanhead.* *trading |
| To Flanders will I go to-morrow at day, |
| And come again as soon as e'er I may: |
| For which, my deare wife, I thee beseek *beseech |
| As be to every wight buxom* and meek, *civil, courteous |
| And for to keep our good be curious, |
| And honestly governe well our house. |
| Thou hast enough, in every manner wise, |
| That to a thrifty household may suffice. |
| Thee lacketh none array, nor no vitail; |
| Of silver in thy purse thou shalt not fail." |
| And with that word his contour door he shet,* *shut |
| And down he went; no longer would he let;* *delay, hinder |
| And hastily a mass was there said, |
| And speedily the tables were laid, |
| And to the dinner faste they them sped, |
| And richely this monk the chapman fed. |
| And after dinner Dan John soberly |
| This chapman took apart, and privily |
| He said him thus: "Cousin, it standeth so, |
| That, well I see, to Bruges ye will go; |
| God and Saint Austin speede you and guide. |
| I pray you, cousin, wisely that ye ride: |
| Governe you also of your diet |
| Attemperly,* and namely** in this heat. *moderately |
| Betwixt us two needeth no *strange fare;* *ado, ceremony* |
| Farewell, cousin, God shielde you from care. |
| If any thing there be, by day or night, |
| If it lie in my power and my might, |
| That ye me will command in any wise, |
| It shall be done, right as ye will devise. |
| But one thing ere ye go, if it may be; |
| I woulde pray you for to lend to me |
| A hundred frankes, for a week or twy, |
| For certain beastes that I muste buy, |
| To store with a place that is ours |
| (God help me so, I would that it were yours); |
| I shall not faile surely of my day, |
| Not for a thousand francs, a mile way. |
| But let this thing be secret, I you pray; |
| For yet to-night these beastes must I buy. |
| And fare now well, mine owen cousin dear; |
| *Grand mercy* of your cost and of your cheer." *great thanks* |
| This noble merchant gentilly* anon *like a gentleman |
| Answer'd and said, "O cousin mine, Dan John, |
| Now sickerly this is a small request: |
| My gold is youres, when that it you lest, |
| And not only my gold, but my chaffare;* *merchandise |
| Take what you list, *God shielde that ye spare.* *God forbid that you |
| But one thing is, ye know it well enow should take too little* |
| Of chapmen, that their money is their plough. |
| We may creance* while we have a name, *obtain credit |
| But goldless for to be it is no game. |
| Pay it again when it lies in your ease; |
| After my might full fain would I you please." |
| These hundred frankes set he forth anon, |
| And privily he took them to Dan John; |
| No wight in all this world wist of this loan, |
| Saving the merchant and Dan John alone. |
| They drink, and speak, and roam a while, and play, |
| Till that Dan John rode unto his abbay. |
| The morrow came, and forth this merchant rideth |
| To Flanders-ward, his prentice well him guideth, |
| Till he came unto Bruges merrily. |
| Now went this merchant fast and busily |
| About his need, and buyed and creanced;* *got credit |
| He neither played at the dice, nor danced; |
| But as a merchant, shortly for to tell, |
| He led his life; and there I let him dwell. |
| The Sunday next* the merchant was y-gone, *after |
| To Saint Denis y-comen is Dan John, |
| With crown and beard all fresh and newly shave, |
| In all the house was not so little a knave,* *servant-boy |
| Nor no wight elles that was not full fain |
| For that my lord Dan John was come again. |
| And shortly to the point right for to gon, |
| The faire wife accorded with Dan John, |
| That for these hundred francs he should all night |
| Have her in his armes bolt upright; |
| And this accord performed was in deed. |
| In mirth all night a busy life they lead, |
| Till it was day, that Dan John went his way, |
| And bade the meinie* "Farewell; have good day." *servants |
| For none of them, nor no wight in the town, |
| Had of Dan John right no suspicioun; |
| And forth he rode home to his abbay, |
| Or where him list; no more of him I say. |
| The merchant, when that ended was the fair, |
| To Saint Denis he gan for to repair, |
| And with his wife he made feast and cheer, |
| And tolde her that chaffare* was so dear, *merchandise |
| That needes must he make a chevisance;* *loan <11> |
| For he was bound in a recognisance |
| To paye twenty thousand shields* anon. *crowns, ecus |
| For which this merchant is to Paris gone, |
| To borrow of certain friendes that he had |
| A certain francs, and some with him he lad.* *took |
| And when that he was come into the town, |
| For great cherte* and great affectioun *love |
| Unto Dan John he wente first to play; |
| Not for to borrow of him no money, |
| Bat for to weet* and see of his welfare, *know |
| And for to telle him of his chaffare, |
| As friendes do, when they be met in fere.* *company |
| Dan John him made feast and merry cheer; |
| And he him told again full specially, |
| How he had well y-bought and graciously |
| (Thanked be God) all whole his merchandise; |
| Save that he must, in alle manner wise, |
| Maken a chevisance, as for his best; |
| And then he shoulde be in joy and rest. |
| Dan John answered, "Certes, I am fain* *glad |
| That ye in health be come borne again: |
| And if that I were rich, as have I bliss, |
| Of twenty thousand shields should ye not miss, |
| For ye so kindely the other day |
| Lente me gold, and as I can and may |
| I thanke you, by God and by Saint Jame. |
| But natheless I took unto our Dame, |
| Your wife at home, the same gold again, |
| Upon your bench; she wot it well, certain, |
| By certain tokens that I can her tell |
| Now, by your leave, I may no longer dwell; |
| Our abbot will out of this town anon, |
| And in his company I muste gon. |
| Greet well our Dame, mine owen niece sweet, |
| And farewell, deare cousin, till we meet. |
| This merchant, which that was full ware and wise, |
| *Creanced hath,* and paid eke in Paris *had obtained credit* |
| To certain Lombards ready in their hond |
| The sum of gold, and got of them his bond, |
| And home he went, merry as a popinjay.* *parrot |
| For well he knew he stood in such array |
| That needes must he win in that voyage |
| A thousand francs, above all his costage.* *expenses |
| His wife full ready met him at the gate, |
| As she was wont of old usage algate* *always |
| And all that night in mirthe they beset;* *spent |
| For he was rich, and clearly out of debt. |
| When it was day, the merchant gan embrace |
| His wife all new, and kiss'd her in her face, |
| And up he went, and maked it full tough. |
| "No more," quoth she, "by God ye have enough;" |
| And wantonly again with him she play'd, |
| Till at the last this merchant to her said. |
| "By God," quoth he, "I am a little wroth |
| With you, my wife, although it be me loth; |
| And wot ye why? by God, as that I guess, |
| That ye have made a *manner strangeness* *a kind of estrangement* |
| Betwixte me and my cousin, Dan John. |
| Ye should have warned me, ere I had gone, |
| That he you had a hundred frankes paid |
| By ready token; he *had him evil apaid* *was displeased* |
| For that I to him spake of chevisance,* *borrowing |
| (He seemed so as by his countenance); |
| But natheless, by God of heaven king, |
| I thoughte not to ask of him no thing. |
| I pray thee, wife, do thou no more so. |
| Tell me alway, ere that I from thee go, |
| If any debtor hath in mine absence |
| Y-payed thee, lest through thy negligence |
| I might him ask a thing that he hath paid." |
| This wife was not afeared nor afraid, |
| But boldely she said, and that anon; |
| "Mary! I defy that false monk Dan John, |
| I keep* not of his tokens never a deal:** *care **whit |
| He took me certain gold, I wot it well.— |
| What? evil thedom* on his monke's snout!—*thriving |
| For, God it wot, I ween'd withoute doubt |
| That he had given it me, because of you, |
| To do therewith mine honour and my prow,* *profit |
| For cousinage, and eke for belle cheer |
| That he hath had full often here. |
| But since I see I stand in such disjoint,* *awkward position |
| I will answer you shortly to the point. |
| Ye have more slacke debtors than am I; |
| For I will pay you well and readily, |
| From day to day, and if so be I fail, |
| I am your wife, score it upon my tail, |
| And I shall pay as soon as ever I may. |
| For, by my troth, I have on mine array, |
| And not in waste, bestow'd it every deal. |
| And, for I have bestowed it so well, |
| For your honour, for Godde's sake I say, |
| As be not wroth, but let us laugh and play. |
| Ye shall my jolly body have *to wed;* *in pledge* |
| By God, I will not pay you but in bed; |
| Forgive it me, mine owen spouse dear; |
| Turn hitherward, and make better cheer." |
7. Contour-house: counting-house; French, "comptoir."
