| "Wepyng and waylyng, care and oother sorwe |
| I knowe ynogh, on even and a-morwe," |
| 1215 | 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 |
| 1225 | 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; |
| 1235 | 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." |