{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/mect/mect19.htm","path":"neu/eng/mect/mect19.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/mect/mect19.htm","text":"The Canterbury Tales and Other Works of Chaucer (Middle English), by Geoffery Chaucer, [14th cent.]\nThe Canterbury Tales\nThe Merchant's Prologue\n\"Wepyng and waylyng, care and oother sorwe I knowe ynogh, on even and a-morwe,\" Quod the Marchant, \"and so doon other mo That wedded been. I trowe that it be so, For wel I woot it fareth so with me. I have a wyf, the worste that may be; For thogh the feend to hire ycoupled were, 1220 She wolde hym overmacche, I dar wel swere. What sholde I yow reherce in special Hir hye malice? She is a shrewe at al. Ther is a long and large difference Bitwix Grisildis grete pacience And of my wyf the passyng crueltee. Were I unbounden, also moot I thee, I wolde nevere eft comen in the snare. We wedded men lyven in sorwe and care. Assaye whoso wole, and he shal fynde 1230 That I seye sooth, by Seint Thomas of Ynde, As for the moore part -- I sey nat alle. God shilde that it sholde so bifalle! \"A, goode sire Hoost, I have ywedded bee Thise monthes two, and moore nat, pardee; And yet, I trowe, he that al his lyve Wyflees hath been, though that men wolde him ryve Unto the herte, ne koude in no manere Tellen so muchel sorwe as I now heere Koude tellen of my wyves cursednesse!\" 1240 \"Now,\" quod oure Hoost, \"Marchaunt, so God yow blesse, Syn ye so muchel knowen of that art Ful hertely I pray yow telle us part.\" \"Gladly,\" quod he, \"but of myn owene soore, For soory herte, I telle may namoore.\"","title":"The Canterbury Tales and Other Works of Chaucer (Middle E...","type":"page"}