| "Ey! Goddes mercy!" seyde oure Hooste tho, |
| 2420 | "Now swich a wyf I pray God kepe me fro! |
| Lo, whiche sleightes and subtilitees |
| In wommen been! For ay as bisy as bees |
| Been they, us sely men for to deceyve, |
| And from the soothe evere wol they weyve; |
| 2425 | 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 labbyng shrewe is she, |
| And yet she hath an heep of vices mo; |
| 2430 | Therof no fors! Lat alle swiche thynges go. |
| But wyte ye what? In conseil be it seyd, |
| Me reweth soore I am unto hire teyd. |
| For and I sholde rekenen every vice |
| Which that she hath, ywis I were to nyce. |
| 2435 | And cause why? It sholde reported be |
| And toold to hire of somme of this meynee -- |
| Of whom, it nedeth nat for to declare, |
| Syn wommen konnen outen swich chaffare; |
| And eek my wit suffiseth nat therto |
| 2440 | To tellen al; wherfore my tale is do." |