GROUP B. (β. FRAGMENT III.)
§ 4. THE SHIPMAN'S TALE.
Incipit fabula Naute
A Marchant whilom dwelled att sein Denys [folio 181a]
That riche was for whiche men helde him wys.
A wif he hadde of excellent beaute.
And compinable and reuerent was sche
Whiche is a þinge þat causeþ more dispence
Then worþe is al þe chier and reuerence.
Line 1196
That men haue done att festes or at daunces
Suche Salutacions and countenaunces
Passeþ as doþe þe schadowe on a wall
Bot woo is him þat paie most for all
Line 1200
The Cely husbonde algates he must paye
He moste vs cloþe and vs araie
Al for his owen wo[r]schip richelye
In whiche araie we dauncen Iolylye
Line 1204
And if þat he nouht maie paraduenture
Or elles luste no suche to endure
Bot þenkeþ it is waste and yloste
þat mot anoþere payen for owre coste
Line 1208
Or leue vs golde and þat is parilous
This noble marchant helde a noble hous
ffor whiche he had al daye grete repaire
ffor his largenesse and for his wif was faire
Line 1212
That wonder is? bot herkeneþ to my tale
Amonges al his gestes grete and smale
Ther was a monke a faire man and a bolde
.I. trowe . a þerte wynter he was of olde
Line 1216
That euere in one was draweinge to þe place
This ȝonge monke þat was so faire of face
