Page 308
[6-text p 476]
[Harl. MS 7335 folio 129]
[b y goddes mercy seide oure ost tho
Now swich a wif y preye god kepe me fro
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lo swiche sleighthes and subtilites
In wommen ben for ay as besy as bees
Ben they vs sely men for to deseyue
And from a sothe euere wil they weyue
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Bi this marchauntis tale hit preueth wel
And natheles as trewe as ony steel
I haue a wif thogh that she poore be
But of hir tonge a labbyng shrewe is she
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And yit she hath an heepe of vices moo
Ther-of no fors let al swiche thynges goo
But wite ye what in counseil be it seide
Me reweth sore y am vn to here teyed [Harl. MS 7335 folio 129b]
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ffor and y shulde rekene euery vice
which that she hath y-wis y were to nyse
And cause whi it shulde reported be
And told to here of sume of this compaignie
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Of whom it nedith nat for to declare
Syn wommen konnen oute swiche chaffare
And ek my wit sufficeth not ther too
To tellen al wherfore my tale is do]
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