The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

§ 4. THE SHIPMAN'S TALE.

[& begynnethe þe tale [Sloane MS 1685 folio 192a]

A Marchaunt whilom dwellyd at seynt denys þat riche was for which men helde hym wys A wyfe he hade of excellent beaute And compenable and reuerent was she Whiche ys a thynge þat causeth more dispense þan worthe ys alle þe chere and reuerence Line 1196 þat men hem done at festees and at daunces Suche salutacions and contenaunces Passeth as doth þe shadowe vpon a walle But woo ys hym þat payen mot for alle Line 1200 þe cely husbonde algate he mot paie he mote vs clothe and vs arraie Alle for his owne worship rychely In whiche arraie we dauncen Iolilye Line 1204 And yf þat he may not parauenture Or elles luste none suche espense to endure But thynkith þat it is waste and y-loste þan mote a-noþere paien for oure coste Line 1208 Or lene vs golde & þat ys perilous This noble Marchaunt hylde a noble house ffor wwhiche he hade alday grete repaire ffor hys largesse and for hys wyf was faire Line 1212 þat wonder ys but herkeneth to my tale Amonges alle hys gestes grete & smale þere was a monke a faire man & a bolde I trowe .xx. wynter he was olde Line 1216 þat euere in on was drawynge to þat place þis yonge Monke þat was so faire of face

[6-text p 169] A-queynted was so with þat gode man [[Sloane MS 1685]] . . . . . Line 1220 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the Sloane MS, in Harl. 1758, or Reg. 18 C ii.]] And eke þis Monke of whiche I be-gan Line 1224 Were bothe two borne in oo vilage þe Monke hym cleymed as for cosynage And he a-yeyne saith not onys nay But was as glade as any foule of day Line 1228 ffor in his hert it was a grete plesaunce Thus bene þe knyt with eterne aliaunce Of Bretherheed/ whiles þat her lyf may dure And ilke of hem gan oþere assure Line 1232 ffre was dan Iohn and namly of dispense As in þat hous and fulle of diligence To do plesaunce and also grete costage he nouȝt for-yate to ȝeue þe laste page Line 1236 In alle þat hous but aftyr hir degre he ȝave þe lord / and siþens his meyne whan þat he came some manere honest thynge ffor whiche þei were as glade for hys comynge Line 1240 As foule ys fayne whan þe sonne vp rysethe Nomore here-of as nowe for þis sufficethe But so befelle þis Marchaunt on a day Schope hym to make redy hys array Line 1244 Toward þe town of Bruggeys for to fare To byen þere a porcion of ware ffor whiche he hathe to parys / sent anone A messangere and prayed hathe Dan Iohn Line 1248 þat he shulde come to seynt Denys to pleye with hym and with his wyf a day or tweye Or he to bruggeys went in alle wyse This noble Monke of whiche I you deuyse] [[Sloane extract ends]] Hath of his abbot as hym leste lycence [Camb. MS] [folio 314a] By-cause he was a man of hygh prudence

[6-text p 170] And ek an offycer out for to ryde To seen here granges & here bernys wyde Line 1256 And vn-to seynt Denys he comyth a-noon Who was so wolcome as myn lord daun Iohn Oure deere cosyn ful of curteysye With hym he brouȝte a Iubbe of Maluesye Line 1260 And ek a nothir ful of fyn vernage And volatyl as was his vsage And thus I lete hem drynke & ete & pleye This Marchaunt & this Monk a day or tweye Line 1264 The thredde day this Marchaunt vp a-ryseth And on hise nedis sadly hym auyseth And vp in-to his countour house goth he To rekene with hym self weel may be Line 1268 Of thilke ȝeer how that it with hym stod And how that he dispendit hadde his good And ȝif that he encresede were er non Hise bokis & hise baggis manyon Line 1272 He leyth be-forn hym on his county[n]g bord fful ryche was his tresor & his hord ffor which ful faste his countour dore he schette And ek he nolde that no man schulde hym lette Line 1276 Of hise acountis for the mene tyme And thus he syt [[altered]] tyl it was passid pryme ¶ Daun Iohn was rysyn in the morwe also And in the gardyn walkith to & fro Line 1280 And hath hise thyngis seyd ful curteysly This goode wyf cam walkynge pryuyly In-to the gardyn there as he walkyth softe And hym saluyth as he hath doon ofte Line 1284 A maydechild cam in hyre cumpaynye Whiche as hyre lyste sche may gouerne & gye ffor ȝit vndyr the ȝerde was the mayde ¶ O deere Cosyn myn daun Iohn sche sayde Line 1288 What aylyth ȝow so rathe for to ryse Nece quod he it oghte I-nogh suffyse

[6-text p 171] ffyue hourys for to slepe vp-on a nyght [folio 314b] But it were for an old appollyd wyght Line 1292 As been these weddede men that lye & dare As in a forme sit a very hare Were al for-strauȝt with houndys greet & smale But dere nece why be ȝe so pale Line 1296 I trowe certis that ȝoure goode man Hath ȝow laboured sythe the nyght be-gan That ȝow were nede to restyn hastily And with that word he lough ful meryely Line 1300 And of his owene thouȝt he wex al red This fayre wyf gan for to schake hire heed And seyde thus ȝa god wot al quod she [Nay cosyn myne hit stont not so with me [Sloane MS 1685 folio 193b] ffor by þat god þat yave me soule & lyf In alle þe reme of fraunce ys þere no wyf þat lasse luste hathe to þat sorie playe ffor I may syngen alas and weel awaye Line 1308 þat I was borne but to no wiȝt quod she] [[Sloane extract ends]] Dare I nat telle how that it stant with me [[Cambr. MS] (no gap above)] Wherefore I thynke out of this world to wende Or ellis of myn self to make an ende Line 1312 So ful am I of drede & of care / This Monk be-gan vp-on this wif to stare And seyde allas myn nece god for-beede That ȝe for ony sorwe or ony drede Line 1316 ffor-do ȝoure self but tellyth me ȝoure greef Parauenture I may in ȝoure myschif Conseyle or helpe / & therfore tellyth mee Alle ȝoure a-noy for it schal be secree Line 1320 ffor on myn portoos here I make an oth That neuere in myn lyue for lef ne loth Ne schal I of no conseyl ȝow be-wreye The same a-geyn to ȝow quod sche I seye Line 1324 By god & by this portos I ȝow swere Thow men woldyn me al in-to pecis tere

[6-text p 172] Ne schal I neuere for to goon to helle Be-wreye a word of thyng that ȝe me telle Line 1328 Noght for no Cosynage ne allyaunce But verrayly for loue & affyaunce Thus been th[e]y swore & here vp-on they keste And eche of hem told othir what hem leste Line 1332 Cosyn quod sche ȝif that I hadde a space As I haue non & namely in this place Thanne wolde I telle a legende of myn lyf [folio 315a] What I haue suffered sithe that I was a wyf Line 1336 With myn [[altered]] husbonde al be he youre cosyn Nay quod this monk by god & seynt martyn He nys no moore Cosyn vpon to me Than is the lef that hangyth on the tre Line 1340 I clepe hym so by seynt denys of fraunce To han the moore cause of acqueyntaunce Of ȝow whiche I haue louyd specyally A-bouyn alle wemen sikyrly Line 1344 This swere I ȝow on myn perfeccioun Tellyth ȝoure gref lest that he come a doun And hastyth ȝow & goth a-wey a-non Myn deere loue quod sche o myn daun Iohn Line 1348 fful leef were me this conseyl for to hyde But out it mot it may no moore a-byde ¶ Myn husbonde is to me the worste man That euere was sithe the world be-gan Line 1352 But sithe I am a wyf it sit nat me To telle no wigh of oure pryuyte Neythir a bedde ne in non othyr place God schilde I schulde it telle for his grace Line 1356 A wyf ne schal nat seyn of hyre housbonde But al honour as I can vndyrstonde Saue on to ȝow thus tellyn I schal As helpe me god he nys nat worth an al Line 1360 In no degre the valeu of a flye But ȝit me greuyth that most his negarderye

[6-text p 173] And weel ȝe wot that wemen naturelly Desyryn thyngis gaye [[altered]] as wel as I Line 1364 They wolde that here husbondys schulde bee Hardy . & ryche & wys & therto free And buxsom vnto his wyf & frosch a-bedde But by that ilke lord that for vs bledde Line 1368 ffor his honour mynself for to araye A sunday next I mot nedys paye An hunderede frankis or ellys am I lorn Ȝit weere me leuere that I weere on born Line 1372 Than me were don a slaundere or velanye [folio 315b] And ȝif myn husbonde ek myghte it espye I nere but lost & therefore I ȝow preye Lene me this summe or ellys mote I deye Line 1376 Daun Ion I seye lene me these hunderede frankys Parde I wele nat fayle yow myn thankys If that yow lyste to don that I ȝow praye ffor at a certeyn day I wele ȝow paye Line 1380 And don to ȝow that plesaunce & seruyse That I may don ryght as ȝow leste deuyse And but I do god take on me vengeaunce As foul as hadde Genyloun of fraunce Line 1384 ¶ This gemtil Monk answerde in this manere Now trewely myn owene lady dere I haue quod he on ȝow so greet routhe That I ȝow swere & plyȝte ȝow myn trouthe Line 1388 That whan youre husbonde is to flaunderys fare I wele delyuere yow out of this care ffor I wele brynge ȝow an hunderede frankys And with that word he caughte hire by the flankys Line 1392 And hire enbrasith harde & kyste hire ofte Goth now ȝoure wey quod he al stylle & softe And lat vs dyne as sone as euere he may ffor by myn Chylendere it is pryme of day Line 1396 Goth now & beth as trewe as I schal be Now ellys god forbeede sire quod sche

[6-text p 174] And forth sche goth as Ioly as a pye And bad the Cokys that they schulde hem hye Line 1400 So that men myghte dyne and that a-non Vp to this husbonde is this wyf a-gon And knokkyth at his countour boldely Who there quod he / petyr it am I Line 1404 Quod sche what sere how longe wele ȝe faste How long tyme wele ȝe / rekene & caste Youre summys & youre bokys & ȝoure thyngis The deuyl haue part of alle sweche rekenyngis Line 1408 Ye haue I-now parde of godys sonde Come doun to day & lat ȝoure baggis stonde Ne be ȝe nat aschamyd that daun Iohn [folio 316a] Schal fastynge al this day alenge goon Line 1412 What lat vs heere a masse & go we dyne Wyf quod this man lytyl canst thow deuyne The Curyouse besynesse that we haue ffor of vs Chapmen al so god me saue Line 1416 And by that lord that clepid is seynt Yue Skarsely a-mongis twelve ten schul thryue Contynewelly lastynge vn-to oure age We may wel make cher & good visage Line 1420 And dryue forth the world as it may be And kepyn oure estat in pryuytee Tyl we been ded or ellis that we pleye A pylgrymage or goon out of the weye Line 1424 And therefore haue I greet necessite Vp-on this queynte world tauyse me ffor euere mo we mote stonde in drede Of hap & fortune in oure Chapmanhede Line 1428 To flaunderis wele I go to morwe at day And come a-geyn as sone as euere I may ffor whiche myn deere wyf I the beseke As beth to to euery whit buxsom & meke Line 1432 And for to keepe oure good been curyous And honestely gouerne weel oure hous

[6-text p 175] Thow hast I-nough in euery maner wyse That to a thryfty houshold may suffyse Line 1436 The lakkyth non aray ne non vitayle Of syluyr in thyn purs schalt thow non fayle And with that word his countour dore he schette And doun he goth no lengere wolde he lette Line 1440 And hastily a masse was theere seyd And spedyly the tabelys weere I-leyd And to the dyner faste hem spedde And rychely this Monk the Chapman fedde Line 1444 At aftyr dyner daun Iohn sobyrly This Chapman tok apart & pryuyly He seyde hym thus / Cosyn it standyth so That wel I se to Bruggis wele Iego Line 1448 God & seynt Augustyn speede ȝow & gyde [folio 316b] I preye ȝow cosyn wysely that ȝe ryde Gouernyth ȝow also of ȝoure dyete Attemprely & namely in this heete Line 1452 By-twixe vs two nedyth ne straunge fare ffare weel cosyn god schylde ȝow from care And ȝif that ony by day or by nyght If it lye in myn power & myn myght Line 1456 That ȝe me wele [[later]] comaunde in ony wyse It schal be don ryght as ȝe wele deuyse othyng Or that ȝe go If it may be I wolde preye ȝow for to lene me Line 1460 An hunderede frankys for a wyke or tweye ffor serteyn bestes that I muste beye To store with a place & that is oures God helpe me so I wolde it were ȝourys Line 1464 I schal not fayle surely of myn day Nat for a thousent frankys a myle way But lat this thyng been secre I ȝow prey ffor ȝit to nygh[t] these bestis mot I beye Line 1468 And fare now weel myn owene cosyn deere Graunt mercy of ȝoure cost & of ȝoure goodely chere

[6-text p 176] This noble Marchaunt gentely a-non Answerede & seyde o cosyn myn daun Iohn Line 1472 Now sekyrly this is a smal requeste Myn gold is ȝourys whan that it ȝow leste And not only myn gold but myn chafare Taake what ȝow lyste god schilde that ȝe spare Line 1476 But o thyng is ȝe knowe it wel I-now Of chapmen that here monye is here plogh We may encrece whil we han a name But goldeles for to been it is a schame Line 1480 Payeth it a-geyn whan it lyth in ȝoure ese Aftyr myn myth ful fayn I wolde ȝow plese These hunderede frankys he fette forth a-noon And pryuyly he tok hem to daun Iohn Line 1484 No whyt of al this world wyste of this lone Sauynge this marchaunt & daun Iohn a-lone They drynke & speke & rome a whyle & pleye [folio 317a] Tyl that daun Iohn rydyth to his abbey Line 1488 The morwe cam & forth this marchaunt ridith To fflaunderis ward his prentys weel hym gydith Tyl he cam in-to Bruggis myriely Now goth this Marchaunt faste & busyly Line 1492 Aboute his neede & byeth & creaunceth He neythir pleyeth at deis ne daunceth But as a marchaunt schortely for to telle He lat his lyf & there I lete hym dwelle Line 1496 The soneday next the marchaunt was a-goon To seynt Denys is come daun Iohn With croune & berd al frosch & newe schaue In al the hous ne was so lyte a knawe Line 1500 Ne no whit ellys that he nas ful fayn That myn lord daun Iohn was come a-gayn And schortely to the poynt rygh[t] for to goon This fayre wyf a-cordyt with daun Iohn Line 1504 That for hise hunderede frankys he schulde al nyght Haue hyre in hise armys bolt vp ryȝt

[6-text p 177] And this acord parforned was in deede In myrthe al nyght a busy lyf they leede Line 1508 Til it was day that daun Iohn wente his way And bad the meyne fare wel haue good day ffor non of hem ne no wyght in the toun Hath of daun Iohn rygh non suspecyoun Line 1512 And forth he rydyth hom to his abbey Or wheere hym luste no more of hym I seye ¶ This Marchaunt whan that endit was the fayre To seynt Denys he gan for to rapayre Line 1516 And with his wyf he makyth feste & cheere And tellyth hyre that chaffare is so deere That nedys muste he make a cheyuyssance ffor he was boundyn in a reconyssance Line 1520 To payen twenty thousent sheeld a-non ffor with this marchaunt is to parys goo To borwe of certeyn frendys that he hadde A certeyn frankys & some with hym he ladde Line 1524 ¶ And whan that he was come in to the toun [folio 317b] ffor gret chieretee & greet facoun Vn-too daun Iohn he fyrst goth hym to pleye Nat for to axe or borwe of hym monye Line 1528 But for to wete & se of his weel fare And for to tellyn hym of hys chaffare As frendys doon whan they been met in feere Daun Iohn hym makyth feste & myry chieere Line 1532 And hym tolde a-geyn ful specially How he hadde weel I-bouȝt & graciously Thankede be god al hol his marchaundyse Saue that he wolde in alle wyse Line 1536 Makyn a cheuyciaunce as for hise beste And thanne he schulde ben In Ioye & reste ¶ Daun Iohn answerede sertis I am fayn That ȝe in heele are comyn hom a-gayn Line 1540 And ȝif that I were ryche as I haue blys Of twenty thousant sheld schulde ȝe nat mys

[6-text p 178] ffor ȝe so kyndely this othir day Lente me gold & as I can & may Line 1544 I-thankede be god & by seynt Iame But natheles I tok vn-to oure dame Ȝoure wyf at hom the same gold agayn Vp-on ȝoure benche sche wot it wel certeyn Line 1548 By certeyn tokenys that I can ȝow telle Now by ȝoure leue I may no lengere dwelle Oure abbot wole out of this toun a-noon And in his cumpaynye mote I goo Line 1552 Grete weel oure dame myn owene nece sweete And fare wel deere cosyn tyl we meete ¶ This marchaunt which that was ful war & wys Creanced hath & payed ek in parys Line 1556 To certeyn lumbardys redy in here hond The summe of gold & gat of hem his bond And hom he goth myrye as a popyniay ffor weele he knew he stood In swich aray Line 1560 That nedys mote he wynne in that vyage A thousent frankys a-bouyn al his Costage [Hys wyf fulle redy mette hym at þe ȝaate [Sloane MS 1685 folio 197a] And she was wonte of olde vsage algate Line 1564 And alle þat nyȝt in myrthe þei be sette ffor he was ryche and clerely oute of dette Whan it was day þis Marchaunt gan enbrace Hys wyf alle newe and kyssed here in þe face Line 1568 And pp he gothe and makethe hit wonder towe No more quod she be god ye haue ynouȝe And wantonly with hym agayne she playde Tylle at þe laste þis Marchaunt sayde Line 1572 By god quod he I am a lytelle wrothe With you my wyfe alle þouȝe yt be me lothe And woote ȝe why by god as þat I gesse ffor ye haue made a manere of straungenesse Line 1576 Be-twexte me and my Cosyn Daun Iohn Ȝe shulde haue warned me or I hade goon.

[6-text p 179] þat he hade you an hundred frankes payde [[Sloane MS 1685]] Be redy token · and he helde hym euel y-payde Line 1580 ffor þat I to hym spake of Cheuesaunce Me semyd so as by hys contenaunce But nathelees be god þat ys heuen kynge I þouȝte nouȝt to axe of hym no thynge Line 1584 I pray þe wyf ne do no more soo. Telle me alle way or þat I fro þe goo Ȝeue eny detoure hathe in myn absence I-payede þe laste þoroue þi necligence [Sloane MS 1685 folio 197b] I myȝt hym axe as thynge þat he hade payde Thys wyf was not aferde nor afrayde But boldely she sayd and þat a-none Mare I defye þat false Monke Daūn Iohn Line 1592 I kepe not of hys tokens neuere a dele He toke me certayne golde I woote hit wele What euel þedom of hys monke snowet ffor god it woote I wende withoute doute Line 1596 þat he hade yeue it me be cause of you To done þere-with myne honoure & my prowe ffor cosynage and eke for beel chere þat he hath hade full ofte tyme here Line 1600 But siþen I see I stonde in suche disioynt I wylle answere you shortly to þe poynt Ȝe haue mo slacker dettours þan am I ffor I wille pay you wele and redely Line 1604 ffro day to day and if so be þat I fayle I am youre wyf score it on my tayle And I shalle pay as sone as euere I may ffor be myn trouþe I haue on myn array Line 1608 And not in waste bestowed euery dele And for I haue bestoyed it so wele To youre honour for goddes sake y say As be not wrothe bot let vs jape & play Line 1612 Ȝe shalle my Ioly body haue to wedde Be god I nelle not pay you but a bed

[6-text p 180] ffor-yeue yt me myn owen spouse dere [[Sloane MS 1685]] Turne hyderward and make me better chere Line 1616 Thys Marchaunt sawe þere was no remedy And forto chyde it nere but foly Seþen hit may not amendid be And wyfe he sayde I forȝeue it þe Line 1620 But by þi lyf be no more so large. Kepe better my gode þis ȝeue I þe in charge Thus endeth nowe my tale and god vs sende Talynge ynouȝe vnto our lyfes ende // Amen [Sloane MS 1685 folio 198a]

Here endeth þe tale of þe Shipman