The Tale + 

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; + 

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, + 

As be these wedded men, that lie and dare, + 

As in a formë sits a weary hare, + 

Allë forstraught with houndës great and smale; + 

But, dearë niecë, why be ye so pale? + 

I trowë certes that our goodë man + 

Hath you so laboúred, since this night began, + 

That you were need to restë hastily.” + 

And with that word he laugh’d full merrily, + 

And of his owen thought he wax’d all red. + 

This fairë wife gan for to shake her head, + 

And saidë thus; “Yea, God wot all,” quoth she. + 

“Nay, cousin mine, it stands not so with me; + 

For by that God, that gave me soul and life, + 

In all the realm of France is there no wife + 

That lessë lust hath to that sorry play; + 

For I may sing alas and well-away! + 

That I was born; but to no wight,” quoth she, + 

“Dare I not tell how that it stands with me. + 

Wherefore I think out of this land to wend, + 

Or ellës of myself to make an end, + 

So full am I of dread and eke of care.” + 

This monk began upon this wife to stare, + 

And said, “Alas! my niecë, God forbid + 

That ye for any sorrow, or any dread, + 

Fordo yourself: but tellë me your grief, + 

Paráventure I may, in your mischíef, + 

Counsel or help; and therefore tellë me + 

All your annoy, for it shall be secré. + 

For on my portos here I make an oath, + 

That never in my life, for lief nor loth, + 

Ne shall I of no counsel you bewray.” + 

“The same again to you,” quoth she, “I say. + 

By God and by this portos I you swear, + 

Though men me woulden all in pieces tear, + 

Ne shall I never, for to go to hell, + 

Bewray one word of thing that ye me tell, + 

For no cousinage, nor alliánce, + 

But verily for love and affiánce.” + 

Thus be they sworn, and thereupon they kiss’d, + 

And each of them told other what them list. + 

“Cousin,” quoth she, “if that I haddë space, + 

As I have none, and namely in this place, + 

Then would I tell a legend of my life, + 

What I have suffer’d since I was a wife + 

With mine husbánd, all be he your cousín. + 

“Nay,” quoth this monk, “by God and Saint Martín, + 

He is no morë cousin unto me, + 

Than is the leaf that hangeth on the tree; + 

I call him so, by Saint Denis of France, + 

To have the morë cause of ácquaintánce + 

Of you, which I have loved specially + 

Aboven allë women sickerly, + 

This swear I you on my professioún; + 

Tell me your grief, lest that he come adown, + 

And hasten you, and go away anon.” + 

“My dearë love,” quoth she, “O my Dan John, + 

Full lief were me this counsel for to hide, + 

But out it must, I may no more abide. + 

My husband is to me the worstë man + 

That ever was since that the world began; + 

But since I am a wife, it sits not me + 

To tellë no wight of our privity, + 

Neither in bed, nor in none other place: + 

God shield I shouldë tell it for his grace; + 

A wifë shall not say of her husbánd + 

But all honoúr, as I can understand; + 

Save unto you thus much I tellë shall; + 

As help me God, he is nought worth at all, + 

In no degree, the value of a fly. + 

But yet me grieveth most his niggardý. + 

And well ye wot, that women naturally + 

Desire thingës six, as well as I. + 

They wouldë that their husbands shouldë be + 

Hardy, and wise, and rich, and thereto free, + 

And buxom to his wife, and fresh in bed. + 

But, by that ilkë Lord that for us bled, + 

For his honoúr myself for to array, + 

On Sunday next I mustë needës pay + 

A hundred francs, or ellës am I lorn. + 

Yet were me lever that I were unborn, + 

Than me were done slander or villainý. + 

And if mine husband eke might it espy, + 

I were but lost; and therefore I you pray, + 

Lend me this sum, or ellës must I dey. + 

Dan John, I say, lend me these hundred francs; + 

Pardie, I will not failë you, my thanks, + 

If that you list to do that I you pray; + 

For at a certain day I will you pay, + 

And do to you what pleasance and servíce + 

That I may do, right as you list devise. + 

And but I do, God take on me vengeánce, + 

As foul as e’er had Ganilion of France.” + 

This gentle monk answér’d in this mannére; + 

“Now truëly, mine owen lady dear, + 

I have,” quoth he, “on you so greatë ruth, + 

That I you swear, and plightë you my truth, + 

That when your husband is to Flanders fare, + 

I will deliver you out of this care, + 

For I will bringë you a hundred francs.” + 

And with that word he caught her by the flanks, + 

And her embraced hard, and kissed her oft. + 

“Go now your way,” quoth he, “all still and soft, + 

And let us dine as soon as that ye may, + 

For by my calinder ’tis prime of day; + 

Go now, and be as true as I shall be.” + 

“Now ellës God forbiddë, Sir,” quoth she; + 

And forth she went, as jolly as a pie, + 

And bade the cookës that they should them hie, + 

So that men mightë dine, and that anon. + 

Up to her husband is this wifë gone, + 

And knocked at his contour boldëly. + 

“Qui est la?” quoth he. “Peter! it am I,” + 

Quoth she; “What, Sir, how longë all will ye fast? + 

How longë time will ye reckon and cast + 

Your summës, and your bookës, and your things? + 

The devil have part of all such reckonings! + 

Ye have enough, pardie, of Goddë’s sond. + 

Come down to-day, and let your baggës stond. + 

Ne be ye not ashamed, that Dan John + 

Shall fasting all this day elengë gon? + 

What? let us hear a mass, and go we dine.” + 

“Wife,” quoth this man, “little canst thou divine + 

The curious businessë that we have; + 

For of us chapmen, all so God me save, + 

And by that lord that cleped is Saint Ive, + 

Scarcely amongës twenty, ten shall thrive + 

Continually, lasting unto our age. + 

We may well makë cheer and good viságe, + 

And drivë forth the world as it may be, + 

And keepen our estate in privity, + 

Till we be dead, or ellës that we play + 

A pilgrimage, or go out of the way. + 

And therefore have I great necessity + 

Upon this quaint world to advisë me. + 

For evermorë must we stand in dread + 

Of hap and fortune in our chapmanhead. + 

To Flanders will I go to-morrow at day, + 

And come again as soon as e’er I may: + 

For which, my dearë wife, I thee beseek + 

As be to every wight buxom and meek, + 

And for to keep our good be curious, + 

And honestly governë well our house. + 

Thou hast enough, in every manner wise, + 

That to a thrifty household may suffice. + 

Thee lacketh none array, nor no vitail; + 

Of silver in thy purse thou shalt not fail.” + 

And with that word his contour door he shet, + 

And down he went; no longer would he let; + 

And hastily a mass was therë said, + 

And speedily the tables werë laid, + 

And to the dinner fastë they them sped, + 

And richëly this monk the chapman fed. + 

And after dinner Dan John soberly + 

This chapman took apart, and privily + 

He said him thus: “Cousin, it standeth so, + 

That, well I see, to Bruges ye will go; + 

God and Saint Austin speedë you and guide. + 

I pray you, cousin, wisely that ye ride: + 

Governë you also of your diét + 

Attemperly, and namely in this heat. + 

Betwixt us two needeth no strangë fare; + 

Farewell, cousín, God shieldë you from care. + 

If any thing there be, by day or night, + 

If it lie in my power and my might, + 

That ye me will command in any wise, + 

It shall be done, right as ye will devise. + 

But one thing ere ye go, if it may be; + 

I wouldë pray you for to lend to me + 

A hundred frankës, for a week or twy, + 

For certain beastës that I mustë buy, + 

To storë with a placë that is ours + 

(God help me so, I would that it were yours); + 

I shall not failë surely of my day, + 

Not for a thousand francs, a milë way. + 

But let this thing be secret, I you pray; + 

For yet tonight these beastës must I buy. + 

And fare now well, mine owen cousin dear; + 

Grand mercy of your cost and of your cheer.” + 

This noble merchant gentilly anon + 

Answér’d and said, “O cousin mine, Dan John, + 

Now sickerly this is a small request: + 

My gold is yourës, when that it you lest, + 

And not only my gold, but my chaffare; + 

Take what you list, God shieldë that ye spare. + 

But one thing is, ye know it well enow + 

Of chapmen, that their money is their plough. + 

We may creancë while we have a name, + 

But goldless for to be it is no game. + 

Pay it again when it lies in your ease; + 

After my might full fain would I you please.” + 

These hundred frankës set he forth anon, + 

And privily he took them to Dan John; + 

No wight in all this world wist of this loan, + 

Saving the merchant and Dan John alone. + 

They drink, and speak, and roam a while, and play, + 

Till that Dan John rode unto his abbay. + 

The morrow came, and forth this merchant rideth + 

To Flanders-ward, his prentice well him guideth, + 

Till he came unto Bruges merrily. + 

Now went this merchant fast and busily + 

About his need, and buyed and creanced; + 

He neither played at the dice, nor danced; + 

But as a merchant, shortly for to tell, + 

He led his life; and there I let him dwell. + 

The Sunday next the merchant was y-gone, + 

To Saint Denís y-comen is Dan John, + 

With crown and beard all fresh and newly shave, + 

In all the house was not so little a knave, + 

Nor no wight ellës that was not full fain + 

For that my lord Dan John was come again. + 

And shortly to the point right for to gon, + 

The fairë wife accorded with Dan John, + 

That for these hundred francs he should all night + 

Havë her in his armës bolt upright; + 

And this accord performed was in deed. + 

In mirth all night a busy life they lead, + 

Till it was day, that Dan John went his way, + 

And bade the meinie “Farewell; have good day.” + 

For none of them, nor no wight in the town, + 

Had of Dan John right no suspicioún; + 

And forth he rodë home to his abbay, + 

Or where him list; no more of him I say. + 

The merchant, when that ended was the fair, + 

To Saint Denís he gan for to repair, + 

And with his wife he madë feast and cheer, + 

And toldë her that chaffare was so dear, + 

That needës must he make a chevisance; + 

For he was bound in a recognisance + 

To payë twenty thousand shields anon. + 

For which this merchant is to Paris gone, + 

To borrow of certain friendës that he had + 

A certain francs, and some with him he lad. + 

And when that he was come into the town, + 

For great cherté and great affectioún + 

Unto Dan John he wentë first to play; + 

Not for to borrow of him no monéy, + 

Bat for to weet and see of his welfare, + 

And for to tellë him of his chaffare, + 

As friendës do, when they be met in fere. + 

Dan John him madë feast and merry cheer; + 

And he him told again full specially, + 

How he had well y-bought and graciously + 

(Thanked be God) all whole his merchandise; + 

Save that he must, in allë manner wise, + 

Maken a chevisance, as for his best; + 

And then he shouldë be in joy and rest. + 

Dan John answered, “Certes, I am fain + 

That ye in health be comë home again: + 

And if that I were rich, as have I bliss, + 

Of twenty thousand shields should ye not miss, + 

For ye so kindëly the other day + 

Lentë me gold, and as I can and may + 

I thankë you, by God and by Saint Jame. + 

But natheless I took unto our Dame, + 

Your wife at home, the samë gold again, + 

Upon your bench; she wot it well, certáin, + 

By certain tokens that I can her tell + 

Now, by your leave, I may no longer dwell; + 

Our abbot will out of this town anon, + 

And in his company I mustë gon. + 

Greet well our Dame, mine owen niecë sweet, + 

And farewell, dearë cousin, till we meet.” + 

This merchant, which that was full ware and wise, + 

Creanced hath, and paid eke in París + 

To certain Lombards ready in their hond + 

The sum of gold, and got of them his bond, + 

And home he went, merry as a popinjay. + 

For well he knew he stood in such array + 

That needës must he win in that voyáge + 

A thousand francs, above all his costáge. + 

His wife full ready met him at the gate, + 

As she was wont of old uságe algate; + 

And all that night in mirthë they beset; + 

For he was rich, and clearly out of debt. + 

When it was day, the merchant gan embrace + 

His wife all new, and kiss’d her in her face, + 

And up he went, and maked it full tough. + 

“No more,” quoth she, “by God ye have enough;” + 

And wantonly again with him she play’d, + 

Till at the last this merchant to her said. + 

“By God,” quoth he, “I am a little wroth + 

With you, my wife, although it be me loth; + 

And wot ye why? by God, as that I guess, + 

That ye have made a manner strangëness + 

Betwixtë me and my cousín, Dan John. + 

Ye should have warned me, ere I had gone, + 

That he you had a hundred frankës paid + 

By ready token; he had him evil apaid + 

For that I to him spake of chevisance, + 

(He seemed so as by his countenance); + 

But natheless, by God of heaven king, + 

I thoughtë not to ask of him no thing. + 

I pray thee, wife, do thou no morë so. + 

Tell me alway, ere that I from thee go, + 

If any debtor hath in mine absénce + 

Y-payed thee, lest through thy negligence + 

I might him ask a thing that he hath paid.” + 

This wife was not afeared nor afraid, + 

But boldëly she said, and that anon; + 

“Mary! I defy that false monk Dan John, + 

I keep not of his tokens never a deal: + 

He took me certain gold, I wot it well.⁠— + 

What? evil thedom on his monkë’s snout!⁠— + 

For, God it wot, I ween’d withoutë doubt + 

That he had given it me, because of you, + 

To do therewith mine honour and my prow, + 

For cousinage, and eke for bellë cheer + 

That he hath had full oftentimë here. + 

But since I see I stand in such disjoint, + 

I will answér you shortly to the point. + 

Ye have more slackë debtors than am I; + 

For I will pay you well and readily, + 

From day to day, and if so be I fail, + 

I am your wife, score it upon my tail, + 

And I shall pay as soon as ever I may. + 

For, by my troth, I have on mine array, + 

And not in waste, bestow’d it every deal. + 

And, for I have bestowed it so well, + 

For your honoúr, for Goddë’s sake I say, + 

As be not wroth, but let us laugh and play. + 

Ye shall my jolly body have to wed; + 

By God, I will not pay you but in bed; + 

Forgive it me, mine owen spousë dear; + 

Turn hitherward, and makë better cheer.” + 

The merchant saw none other remedy; + 

And for to chide, it were but a follý, + 

Since that the thing might not amended be. + 

“Now, wife,” he said, “and I forgive it thee; + 

But by thy lifë be no more so large; + 

Keep better my good, this give I thee in charge.” + 

Thus endeth now my tale; and God us send + 

Taling enough, until our livës’ end! + 