#  7.1 The Shipman's Tale 

 



 ##  

  expand\_more  

 
  

 

## **The Shipman's Tale**

### Part I, lines 1-157

*Heere bigynneth the Shipmannes Tale.*

1 **A marchant whilom dwelled at Seint-Denys,**  
 A merchant once dwelled at Seint-Denis,   
2 **That riche was, for which men helde hym wys.**  
 Who was rich, for which men considered him wise.  
3 **A wyf he hadde of excellent beautee;**  
 He had a wife of excellent beauty;  
4 **And compaignable and revelous was she,**  
 And she was sociable and fond of revelry,   
5 **Which is a thyng that causeth more dispence**  
 Which is a thing that causes more expense  
6 **Than worth is al the chiere and reverence**  
 Than is worth all the good cheer and reverence   
7 **That men hem doon at festes and at daunces.**  
 That men do to them at festivities and at dances.   
8 **Swiche salutaciouns and contenaunces**  
 Such salutations and courtesies  
9 **Passen as dooth a shadwe upon the wal;**  
 Pass away as does a shadow upon the wall;  
10 **But wo is hym that payen moot for al!**  
 But woe to him that must pay for all!  
11 **The sely housbonde, algate he moot paye,**  
 The poor (hapless) husband, always he must pay,   
12 **He moot us clothe, and he moot us arraye,**  
 He must clothe us, and he must adorn us  
13 **Al for his owene worshipe richely,**  
 Richly, all for the sake of his own reputation,  
14 **In which array we daunce jolily.**  
 In which finery we dance merrily.  
15 **And if that he noght may, par aventure,**  
 And if it happens he can not pay,   
16 **Or ellis list no swich dispence endure,**  
 Or else desires to endure no such expense,  
17 **But thynketh it is wasted and ylost,**  
 But thinks it is wasted and lost,  
18 **Thanne moot another payen for oure cost,**  
 Then another must pay for our costs,  
19 **Or lene us gold, and that is perilous.**  
 Or lend us gold, and that is perilous.

20 **This noble marchaunt heeld a worthy hous,**  
 This noble merchant held a worthy house,  
21 **For which he hadde alday so greet repair**  
 For which he always had so many guests  
22 **For his largesse, and for his wyf was fair,**  
 Because of his generosity, and because his wife was fair,   
23 **That wonder is; but herkneth to my tale.**  
 That it is a wonder; but listen to my tale.  
24 **Amonges alle his gestes, grete and smale,**  
 Among all his guests, high ranking and low,  
25 **Ther was a monk, a fair man and a boold --**  
 There was a monk, a handsome man and a bold one --  
26 **I trowe a thritty wynter he was oold --**  
 I believe he was about thirty years old --  
27 **That evere in oon was drawynge to that place.**  
 Who continually was drawing to that place.  
28 **This yonge monk, that was so fair of face,**  
 This young monk, who had so handsome a face,  
29 **Aqueynted was so with the goode man,**  
 Was so acquainted with the good man,  
30 **Sith that hir firste knoweliche bigan,**  
 Since their first acquaintance began,  
31 **That in his hous as famulier was he**  
 That in his house as intimate was he   
32 **As it is possible any freend to be.**  
 As it is possible for any friend to be.

33 **And for as muchel as this goode man,**  
 And in view of the fact that this good man,  
34 **And eek this monk of which that I bigan,**  
 And also this monk of whom I began (to tell),  
35 **Were bothe two yborn in o village,**  
 The two of them, were both born in one village,   
36 **The monk hym claymeth as for cosynage,**  
 The monk claims him as a kinsman,  
37 **And he agayn; he seith nat ones nay,**  
 And he does the same; he not once says 'nay,'  
38 **But was as glad therof as fowel of day,**  
 But was as glad of this as a fowl is of day,  
39 **For to his herte it was a greet plesaunce.**  
 For to his heart it was a great pleasure.  
40 **Thus been they knyt with eterne alliaunce,**  
 Thus are they knit with eternal alliance,  
41 **And ech of hem gan oother for t' assure**  
 And each of them assured the other   
42 **Of bretherhede whil that hir lyf may dure.**  
 Of brotherhood while their life may endure.  
43 **Free was daun John, and manly of dispence,**  
 Free-handed was Don John, and generous in spending  
44 **As in that hous, and ful of diligence**  
 In that house, and full of diligence  
45 **To doon plesaunce, and also greet costage.**  
 To do pleasure, and also great expenditure.   
46 **He noght forgat to yeve the leeste page**  
 He did not forget to give to the lowest ranking servant  
47 **In al that hous; but after hir degree,**  
 In all that house; but according to their rank,   
48 **He yaf the lord, and sitthe al his meynee,**  
 He gave to the lord, and then to all his household,   
49 **Whan that he cam, som manere honest thyng,**  
 When he came, some sort of suitable gift,  
50 **For which they were as glad of his comyng**  
 For which they were as glad of his coming  
51 **As fowel is fayn whan that the sonne up riseth.**  
 As a fowl is happy when the sun rises up.  
52 **Na moore of this as now, for it suffiseth.**  
 No more of this for now, for it suffices.

53 **But so bifel, this marchant on a day**  
 But as it happened, this merchant on a day  
54 **Shoop hym to make redy his array**  
 Decided to make ready his preparations  
55 **Toward the toun of Brugges for to fare,**  
 To travel to the town of Bruges ,  
56 **To byen there a porcioun of ware;**  
 To buy there a quantity of merchandise;  
57 **For which he hath to Parys sent anon**  
 For which he has to Paris sent immediately  
58 **A messager, and preyed hath daun John**  
 A messenger, and has prayed Don John  
59 **That he sholde come to Seint-Denys to pleye**  
 That he should come to Seint-Denis to visit  
60 **With hym and with his wyf a day or tweye,**  
 With him and with his wife a day or two,  
61 **Er he to Brugges wente, in alle wise.**  
 Before he went to Bruges, indeed.

62 **This noble monk, of which I yow devyse,**  
 This noble monk, of whom I tell you,  
63 **Hath of his abbot, as hym list, licence,**  
 Has of his abbot, as he pleases, permission,   
64 **By cause he was a man of heigh prudence**  
 Because he was a man of great prudence  
65 **And eek an officer, out for to ryde,**  
 And also an officer, to ride out  
66 **To seen hir graunges and hire bernes wyde,**  
 To see to their granges and their capacious barns,  
67 **And unto Seint-Denys he comth anon.**  
 And he comes quickly to Seint-Denis.  
68 **Who was so welcome as my lord daun John,**  
 Who was so welcome as my lord Don John,  
69 **Oure deere cosyn, ful of curteisye?**  
 Our dear cousin, full of courtesy?  
70 **With hym broghte he a jubbe of malvesye,**  
 With him he brought a jug of malmsey wine,   
71 **And eek another ful of fyn vernage,**  
 And also another full of fine white wine,  
72 **And volatyl, as ay was his usage.**  
 And game fowls, as always was his custom.  
73 **And thus I lete hem ete and drynke and pleye,**  
 And thus I let them eat and drink and amuse themselves,  
74 **This marchant and this monk, a day or tweye.**  
 This merchant and this monk, for a day or two.

75 **The thridde day, this marchant up ariseth,**  
 The third day, this merchant up arises,  
76 **And on his nedes sadly hym avyseth,**  
 And seriously considers his business,  
77 **And up into his countour-hous gooth he**  
 And he goes up into his counting-house  
78 **To rekene with hymself, wel may be,**  
 To reckon with himself, as it well may be,  
79 **Of thilke yeer how that it with hym stood,**  
 Of that same year how it stood with him,  
80 **And how that he despended hadde his good,**  
 And how he had spent his funds,  
81 **And if that he encressed were or noon.**  
 And if he had profited or not.  
82 **His bookes and his bagges many oon**  
 His account books and his moneybags many a one  
83 **He leith biforn hym on his countyng-bord.**  
 He lays before him on his counting-board.  
84 **Ful riche was his tresor and his hord,**  
 His treasure and his hoard was very rich,  
85 **For which ful faste his countour-dore he shette;**  
 For which he very tightly shut his counting house-door;  
86 **And eek he nolde that no man sholde hym lette**  
 And also he wanted that no one should hinder him  
87 **Of his acountes, for the meene tyme;**  
 From (making) his accounts, for the time being;  
88 **And thus he sit til it was passed pryme.**  
 And thus he sits until it was past nine o'clock.

89 **Daun John was rysen in the morwe also,**  
 Don John had also risen in the morning,  
90 **And in the gardyn walketh to and fro,**  
 And in the garden walks to and fro,  
91 **And hath his thynges seyd ful curteisly.**  
 And has said his prayers very courteously.

92 **This goode wyf cam walkynge pryvely**  
 This good wife came walking alone   
93 **Into the gardyn, there he walketh softe,**  
 Into the garden, where he walks quietly,  
94 **And hym saleweth, as she hath doon ofte.**  
 And salutes him, as she has often done.  
95 **A mayde child cam in hire compaignye,**  
 A maid servant came in her company,  
96 **Which as hir list she may governe and gye,**  
 Whom she may govern and guide as she pleases,  
97 **For yet under the yerde was the mayde.**  
 For the maid was yet subject to adult discipline.  
98 **"O deere cosyn myn, daun John," she sayde,**  
 "Oh my dear cousin, Don John," she said,  
99 **"What eyleth yow so rathe for to ryse?"**  
 "What ails you to rise so early?"

100 **"Nece," quod he, "it oghte ynough suffise**  
 "Niece," said he, "it ought enough suffice  
101 **Fyve houres for to slepe upon a nyght,**  
 To sleep five hours upon a night,  
102 **But it were for an old appalled wight,**  
 Unless it were for an old enfeebled creature,   
103 **As been thise wedded men, that lye and dare**  
 As are these wedded men, that lie and doze  
104 **As in a fourme sit a wery hare,**  
 As in his lair sits a weary hare,  
105 **Were al forstraught with houndes grete and smale.**  
 Which is greatly distressed by hounds great and small.  
106 **But deere nece, why be ye so pale?**  
 But dear niece, why are you so pale?  
107 **I trowe, certes, that oure goode man**  
 I believe, certainly, that the head of our household  
108 **Hath yow laboured sith the nyght bigan**  
 Has labored you since the night began  
109 **That yow were nede to resten hastily."**  
 So much that you badly have need to rest."  
110 **And with that word he lough ful murily,**  
 And with that word he laughed very merrily,  
111 **And of his owene thought he wax al reed.**  
 And of his own thought he grew all red.

112 **This faire wyf gan for to shake hir heed**  
 This fair wife began to shake her head  
113 **And seyde thus, "Ye, God woot al," quod she.**  
 And said thus, "Yea, God knows all," she said.  
114 **"Nay, cosyn myn, it stant nat so with me;**  
 "Nay, my cousin, it stands not so with me;  
115 **For, by that God that yaf me soule and lyf,**  
 For, by that God that gave me soul and life,  
116 **In al the reawme of France is ther no wyf**  
 In all the realm of France there is no wife  
117 **That lasse lust hath to that sory pley.**  
 That has less desire for that sorry play.  
118 **For I may synge `allas and weylawey**  
 For I may sing `alas and alack  
119 **That I was born,' but to no wight," quod she,**  
 That I was born,' but to no one," she said,  
120 **"Dar I nat telle how that it stant with me.**  
 "Dare I tell how it stands with me.  
121 **Wherfore I thynke out of this land to wende,**  
 Therefore I intend to go out of this land,  
122 **Or elles of myself to make an ende,**  
 Or else to make an end of myself,  
123 **So ful am I of drede and eek of care."**  
 I am so full of dread and also of care."

124 **This monk bigan upon this wyf to stare,**  
 This monk began to stare upon this wife,  
125 **And seyde, "Allas, my nece, God forbede**  
 And said, "Alas, my niece, God forbid  
126 **That ye, for any sorwe or any drede,**  
 That you, for any sorrow or any dread,  
127 **Fordo youreself; but telleth me youre grief.**  
 Should destroy yourself; but tell me your grief.  
128 **Paraventure I may, in youre meschief,**  
 Perhaps I can, in your unhappy situation,  
129 **Conseille or helpe; and therfore telleth me**  
 Advise or help; and therefore tell me  
130 **Al youre anoy, for it shal been secree.**  
 All your trouble, for it shall be secret.  
131 **For on my portehors I make an ooth**  
 For on my prayer book I make an oath  
132 **That nevere in my lyf, for lief ne looth,**  
 That never in my life, willing or unwilling,  
133 **Ne shal I of no conseil yow biwreye."**  
 Shall I betray any of your secrets."

134 **"The same agayn to yow," quod she, "I seye.**  
 "The same in reply to you," she said, "I say.  
135 **By God and by this portehors I swere,**  
 By God and by this prayer book I swear,  
136 **Though men me wolde al into pieces tere,**  
 Though men would tear me all to pieces  
137 **Ne shal I nevere, for to goon to helle,**  
 I shall never, even though I go to hell for it,  
138 **Biwreye a word of thyng that ye me telle,**  
 Betray a word of anything that you tell me,  
139 **Nat for no cosynage ne alliance,**  
 Not for any kinship nor alliance,  
140 **But verraily for love and affiance."**  
 But truly for love and trust."  
141 **Thus been they sworn, and heerupon they kiste,**  
 Thus they are sworn, and thereupon they kissed,  
142 **And ech of hem tolde oother what hem liste.**  
 And each of them told the other what they pleased.

143 **"Cosyn," quod she, "if that I hadde a space,**  
 "Cousin," she said, "if I had a space of time,  
144 **As I have noon, and namely in this place,**  
 As I have none, and especially in this place,  
145 **Thanne wolde I telle a legende of my lyf,**  
 Then would I tell a legend of my life,  
146 **What I have suffred sith I was a wyf**  
 What I have suffered since I was a wife  
147 **With myn housbonde, al be he youre cosyn."**  
 Because of my husband, although he is your cousin."

148 **"Nay," quod this monk, "by God and Seint Martyn,**  
 "Nay," said this monk, "by God and Saint Martin,  
149 **He is na moore cosyn unto me**  
 He is no more cousin unto me  
150 **Than is this leef that hangeth on the tree!**  
 Than is this leaf that hangs on the tree!  
151 **I clepe hym so, by Seint Denys of Fraunce,**  
 I call him so, by Saint Denis of France,  
152 **To have the moore cause of aqueyntaunce**  
 To have the more opportunity of acquaintance  
153 **Of yow, which I have loved specially**  
 With you, whom I have loved especially  
154 **Aboven alle wommen, sikerly.**  
 Above all women, certainly.  
155 **This swere I yow on my professioun.**  
 This I swear to you on my religious vows.  
156 **Telleth youre grief, lest that he come adoun;**  
 Tell your grief, lest that he come down;  
157 **And hasteth yow, and gooth youre wey anon."**  
 And hasten you, and go your way quickly."