The Canterbury tales and Faerie queene &c., &c., &c., ed. for popular perusal with current illustrations and explanatory notes, by D. Laing Purves.

THE MERCHANT'S TALE. 107
To waive 1 from the word of Solomon. More goode thewes 15 than her vices bad:
This word said he unto us every one; And all this asketh leisure to inquere.
Work all thing by counsel,-thus said he,- For, God it wot, I have wept many a tear
And thenne shalt thou not repente thee. Full privily, since I have had a wife.
But though that Solomon spake such a word, Praise whoso will a wedded manne's life,
Mine owen deare brother and my lord, Certes, I find in it but cost and care,
So wisly 2 God my soule bring at rest, And observances of all blisses bare.
I hold your owen counsel is the best. And yet, God wot, my neighebours about,
For, brother mine, take of me this motive; 3 And namely 16 of women many a rout,l7
I have now been a court-man all my life, Say that I have the most6 steadfast wife,
And, God it wot, though I unworthy be, And'eke the meekest one, that beareth life.
I havi standen in full great degree But I know best where wringeth 18 me my shoe.
Aboute lordis of full high estate; Ye may for me right as you likB do.
Yet had I ne'er with none of them debate; Advise you, ye be a man of age,
I never them contraried truily. How that ye enter into marriage;
I know well that my lord can 4 more than I; And namely 1 with a young wife and a fair.
What that he saith, I hold it firm and stable, By him that made water, fire, earth, air,
I say the same, or else a thing semblable. The youngest man that is in all this rout 17
A full great fool is any counsellor Is busy enough to bringen it about
That serveth any lord of high honour, To have his wife alone, truste me:
That dare presume, or ones thinken it, Ye shall not please her fully yeares three,
That his counsel should pass his lorde's wit. This is to say, to do her full pleasance.
Nay, lordis be no fooles, by my fay. A wife asketh full many an observance.
Ye have yourselfe shewed here to-day I pray you that ye be not evil apaid." 19
So high sentence,5 so holily and well, " Well," quoth this January, " and hast thou
That I consent, and c6nfirm every deal 6 said?
Your wordes all, and your opiniodn. Straw for thy Senec, and for thy proverbs,
By God, there is no man in all this town I counti not a pannier full of herbs
Nor in Itale, could better have y-said: Of schoole termes; wiser men than thou,
Christ holds him of this counsel well apaid.7 As thou hast heard, assented here right now
And truely it is a high courage To my purpose: Placebo, what say ye?"
Of any man that stopen is in age, "I say it is a cursed 20 man," quoth he,
To take a young wife, by my father's kin; "That letteth21 matrimony, sickerly."
Your hearte hangeth on a jolly pin. And with that word they rise up suddenly,
Do now in this matter right as you lest, And be assented fully, that he should
For finally I hold it for the best." Be wedded when him list, and where he would.
Justinus, that aye stilli sat and heard, High fantasy and curious business
Right in this wise to Placebo answer'd. From day to day gan in the soul impress 22
" Now, brother mine, be patient I pray, Of January about his marriage.
Since ye have said, and hearken what I say. Many a fair shape, and many a fair visfge
Senec, among his other wordes wise, There passed through his hearte night by night.
Saith, that a man ought him right well advise,9 As whoso took a mirror polish'd bright,
To whom he gives his land or his chattel. And set it in a common market-place,
And since I ought advise me right well Then should he see many a figure pace
To whom I give my good away from me, By his mirr6r; and in the same wise
Well more I ought advise me, pardie, Gan January in his thought devise
To whom I give my body: for alway Of maidens, which that dwelte him beside:
I warn you well it is no childe's play He wiste not where that he might abide."3
To take a wife without advisement. For if that one had beauty in her face,
Men must inquire (this is mine assent) Another stood so in the people's grace
Whe'er she be wise, or sober, or dronkelew,l0 For her sadness24 and her benignity,
Or proud, or any other ways a shrew, That of the people greatest voice had she:
A chidester,l or a waster of thy good, And some were rich and had a badde name.
Or rich or poor; or else a man is wood. 2 But natheless, betwixt earnest and game,
Albeit so, that no man finde shall He at the last appointed him on one,
None in this world, that trotteth whole in all, 3 And let all others from his hearte gon,
Nor man, nor beast, such as men can devise,l4 And chose her of his own authority;
But natheless it ought enough suffice For love is blind all day, and may not see.
With any wife, if so were that she had And when that he was into bed y-brought,
I Depart, deviate. 2 Surely. 10 Given to drink. 11 A scold.
3 Advice, encouragement. 4 Knows. 12 Mad. 13 Sound in every point.
5 Judgment, sentiment. 14 Describe, tell. 15 Qualities. 16 Especially.
6 In every point. 7 Satisfied. 17 Company. 18 Pinches. 19 Displeased.
8 Advanced; past participle of "step." Elsewhere 20 Ill-natured, wicked. 21 Hindereth.
" y-stept in age" is used by Chaucer. 22 Imprint themselves. 23 Stay, fix his ohoice.
9 Consider. 24 Sedateness.