For which they were as glad of his comíng As fowl is fain when that the sun upriseth. No more of this as now, for it sufficeth.
But so befell, this merchant on a day Shope him to makë ready his array Toward the town of Bruges for to fare, To buyë there a portión of ware; For which he hath to Paris sent anon A messenger, and prayed hath Dan John That he should come to Saint Denís, and play With him, and with his wife, a day or tway, Ere he to Bruges went, in allë wise. This noble monk, of which I you devise, Had of his abbot, as him list, licence, (Because he was a man of high prudence, And eke an officer out for to ride, To see their granges and their barnës wide); And unto Saint Denis he came anon. Who was so welcome as my lord Dan John, Our dearë cousin, full of courtesy? With him he brought a jub of malvesie, And eke another full of fine vernage, And volatile, as aye was his uságe: And thus I let them eat, and drink, and play, This merchant and this monk, a day or tway. The thirdë day the merchant up ariseth, And on his needës sadly him adviseth; And up into his countour-house went he, To reckon with himself as well may be, Of thilkë year, how that it with him stood, And how that he dispended bad his good, And if that he increased were or non. His bookës and his baggës many a one He laid before him on his counting-board. Full richë was his treasure and his hoard; For which full fast his countour door he shet; And eke he would that no man should him let Of his accountës, for the meanë time: And thus he sat, till it was passed prime.
Dan John was risen in the morn also, And in the garden walked to and fro, And had his thingës said full courteously. The good wife came walking full privily Into the garden, where he walked soft, And him saluted, as she had done oft; A maiden child came in her companý, Which as her list she might govérn and gie, For yet under the yardë was the maid. “O dearë cousin mine, Dan John,” she said, “What aileth you so rath for to arise?” “Niecë,” quoth he, “it ought enough suffice Five hourës for to sleep upon a night; But it were for an old appalled wight,