The Merchant’s Epilogue
’Ey! goddes mercy!’ seyde our Hoste tho,
‘Now swich a wyf I pray god kepe me fro!
Lo, whiche sleightes and subtilitees
In wommen been! for ay as bisy as bees
Ben they, us sely men for to deceyve,
And from a sothe ever wol they weyve;
By this Marchauntes Tale it preveth weel.
But doutelees, as trewe as any steel
I have a wyf, though that she povre be;
But of hir tonge a labbing shrewe is she,
And yet she hath an heep of vyces mo;
Ther-of no fors, lat alle swiche thinges go.
But, wite ye what? in conseil be it seyd,
Me reweth sore I am un-to hir teyd.
For, and I sholde rekenen every vyce
Which that she hath, y-wis, I were to nyce,
And cause why; it sholde reported be
And told to hir of somme of this meynee;
Of whom, it nedeth nat for to declare,
Sin wommen connen outen swich chaffare;
And eek my wit suffyseth nat ther-to
To tellen al; wherfor my tale is do.'
“Ey! god’s mercy!” said our Host tho,
“Now such a wife I pray god keep me fro’!
Lo, which sleights and subtleties
In women been! for as busy as bees
Been they, us seely men for to deceive,
And from a sooth ever will they waive;
By this Merchant’s Tale it proveth well.
But doubtless, as true as any steel
I have a wife, though that she povre be;
But of her tongue a blabbing shrew is she,
And yet she hath a heap of vices mo’;
Thereof no force, let all such things go.
But, wit ye what? in counsel be it said,
Me rueth sore I am unto her tied.
For, and I should reckon every vice
Which that she hath, y-wis, I were too nice,
And cause why: it should reported be
And told to her of some of this meinie;
Of whom, it needeth not for to declare,
Since women cannen outen such chaffer;
And eke my wit sufficeth not thereto
To tellen all; wherefore my tale is do.”
