Page 5*
[6-text p 442]
3. [And next folwith the Marchauntis prolog.
[MS. Arch. Seld. B. 14 folio 114b]
Weping and waylyng / care and other sorowe
I knowe I-now on even / and on morowe
quod the marchaunte / and so done other mo
that wedded be / I trowe that hit be so
Line 1216
for wel I woot / hit farith so bi me
I haue a wiff / the worst that may be
for though the fende / to hir coupled were
she wolde him ouer-macche / I dar wel swere
Line 1220
what shulde I yow rehers in special
hir high malice / she is a shrewe at al
ther is a longe / and a large difference
bitwixe Gresildis grete pacience
Line 1224
and of my wiff / the passing cruelte
were I vnbounden / also mot y the
I wolde neuer efte comyn / in the snare
we wedded men liven / in sorowe and care
Line 1228
a-say who so wol / and he shal fynde
that I sey sothe / bi seint Thomas of ynde
and for the more parte / I sey not alle
god shilde that it sholde / so bi-falle
Line 1232
a goode sir oste / I haue wedded be
this monthes two / and more not parde
and yit I trowe / he wolde al his live
wiveles han ben / though men wolde him rive
Line 1236
in-to the herte / ne coude in no manere [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14 folio 115a]
tellen so meche sorowe / as I now here
couthe telle / of my wivis cursidnesse
now quod oure oste marchaunt / so god yow blesse
Line 1240
syn ye so mechel knowen / of that arte
ful hertely I pray yow / telle vs parte
gladly quod he / but of myn owne sore
for hevy herte / I telle may no more
Line 1244
Here endith the Marchaunt is prolog