A Merchant whilom dwell’d at Saint Deníse, That richë was, for which men held him wise. A wife he had of excellent beautý, And companiable and revellous was she, Which is a thing that causeth more dispence Than worth is all the cheer and reverence That men them do at feastës and at dances. Such salutatións and countenánces Passen, as doth the shadow on the wall; Put woe is him that payë must for all. The sely husband algate he must pay, He must us clothe and he must us array All for his owen worship richëly: In which array we dancë jollily. And if that he may not, paráventure, Or ellës list not such dispence endure, But thinketh it is wasted and y-lost, Then must another payë for our cost, Or lend us gold, and that is perilous.
This noble merchant held a noble house; For which he had all day so great repair, For his largesse, and for his wife was fair, That wonder is; but hearken to my tale. Amongës all these guestës great and smale, There was a monk, a fair man and a bold, I trow a thirty winter he was old, That ever-in-one was drawing to that place. This youngë monk, that was so fair of face, Acquainted was so with this goodë man, Since that their firstë knowledgë began, That in his house as familiár was he As it is possible any friend to be. And, for as muchel as this goodë man, And eke this monk of which that I began, Were both the two y-born in one villáge, The monk him claimed, as for cousinage, And he again him said not oncë nay, But was as glad thereof as fowl of day; For to his heart it was a great pleasánce. Thus be they knit with etern’ alliánce, And each of them gan other to assure Of brotherhood while that their life may dure. Free was Dan John, and namely of dispence, As in that house, and full of diligence To do pleasánce, and also great costáge; He not forgot to give the leastë page In all that house; but, after their degree, He gave the lord, and sithen his meinie, When that he came, some manner honest thing;