The+Merchant's+Tale

Considered hath, inwith his dayes olde, The listy lyf, the vertuous quyete, That is in mariage hony-sweete; And for his freendes on a day he sente, To tellen him th'effect of his entente.
 * Middle English || Modern English ||
 * For which this Januarie, of whom I tolde,

With face sad his tale he hath hem toold He seyde, "Freendes, I am hoor and oold, And almost, God woot, on my pittes brynke; Upon my soule somwhat moste I thynke. I have my body folily despended; Bledded be God that it shal been amended! For I wol be, certeyn, a wedded man, And that anoon in al the haste I kan. Unto som maybe fair and tendre of age, I prey yow, shapeth for my mariage Al sodeynkly for I wol nat abyde;

That she, this mayden, which that Mayus highte, As hastily as evere that she myghte, Shal wedded be unto this Januarie. || For which this January, of whom I told, Did well consider in his days grown old, The pleasant life, the virtuous rest complete That are in marriage, always honey-sweet; And for his friends upon a day he sent To tell them the effect of his intent.

With sober face his tale to them he's told; He said to them: "My friends, I'm grey and old, And almost, God knows, come to my grave's brink; About my soul, now, somewhat musy I think. I have my body foolishly expended; Blessed be God, that this be amended! For I will be, truely a weddwed man, And that at once, in all the haste I can, Unto some maiden young in age and fair. I pray you for my marriage all prepare, And do so nowm for I will not abide;

That she, this virgin, who was Maia hight, As speedily indeed as eer she might, Should married be unto this January. ||

media type="file" key="Merchant - 1.mp3"

Al but a squyer, highte Damyan, Which carf bilforn the knyght ful many a day. He was so ravysshed on his lady May That for the verray peyne he was ny wood. Almoost he swelte and swowned ther he stood,
 * Middle English || Modern English ||
 * And ful of joye and blisse is every man, -

This fresshe May hath streight hir wey yholde, With alle hir woomen, unto Damyan. Doun by his beddes syde sit she than, Confortynge hym as goodly as she may. This Damyan, what that his tyme he say, In secree wise his purs and eek his bille, In which that he ywriten hadde his wille, Hath put into hire hand, withouten moore, Save that he siketh wonder depe and soore And softely to hire right thus seyde he: "Mercy! and that ye nat discovere me, For I am deed if that this thyng be kyd." This purs hath she inwith hir boson hyd, And wente hire wey; ye gete namoore of me. || And full of bliss and joy was every man, All but a squire, a youth called Damian, Who'd carved before the knight full of many a day. He was so ravished by his Lady May That for the very pain, as madman would, Almost he fell down fainting where he stood.

This lovely May then did her straight way hold, With all her women, unto Damian. Down by his bed she sat, and so began To comfort him with kindle word and glance. This Damian, when once he'd found his chance, In secret wise his purse and letter, too, Wherein he'd said what he aspeired to, He put into her hand, with nothing more, Save that he heaved a sign both deep and sore, And softly to her in this wise said he: "Oh, mercy! Don't, I beg you, tell on me; For I'm but dead if this thing be made known." This purse sae his in bosom of her gown And went her way; you get no more of me.

||

media type="file" key="Merchant - 2.mp3"

Amydde his list and his prosperitee, Is woxen blynd, and that al sodeynly,
 * Middle English || Modern English ||
 * Allas! this noble Januarie free,

That neither in halle, n'yn noon oother hous, Ne in noon oother place, never themo, He nolde suffre hire for to ryde or go, But if that he had hond on hire alway;

That evere was; for neither nyght ne day Ne myghte he speke a word to fresshe May, As to his purpos, of no swich mateere, But if that Januarie moste it heere, That haddle an hand upon hire everemo.

This fresshe May, that i spak of so yoore, In warm wex hath emprented the clyket That januarie bar of the smale wyket, By which into his gardyn ofte he wente; And Damyan, that knew al hire entente, The cliket contrefeted pryvely. Ther nys namoore to seye, but hastily Som wonder by this clyket shal bityde, Which ye shul heeren, if ye wole abyde. || Alas! This noble January free, In all his pleasure and prosperity, Is fallen blind, and that all suddenly.

That neither in his hall nor other house Nor any other place, not ever, no, He suffered her to ride or walking go, Unless he had his hand on her alway;

That ever was; for neither night nor day Might he so much as speak a word to May Of his desire, as I am telling here, Except it were said to January's ear, Who never took his blink hand off her, no.

This lovely May, of whom I spoke before, In warm wax made impression of the key her husband carried, to the gate where he In entering his garden often went. And Damian, who knew all her intent, The key did counterfeit, and privately; There is no more to say, but speedily Some mischief of this latch-key shall betide, Which you shall hear, if you but time will bide. ||

media type="file" key="Merchant - 3.mp3"

Sat in the bussh, and coughen she bigan, And with hir fynger signes made she That Damyan sholde clymbe upon a tree, That charged was with fruyt, and up he wente. For verraily he knew al hire entente, And every signe that she koude make,
 * Middle English || Modern English ||
 * And with that word she saugh wher Damyan

But wolde ye couche sauf, for Goddes s ake, The pyrie inwith youre armes for to take, For wel I woot that ye mystruste me, Thanne sholde I clymbe wel ynogh," quod she, "So i my foot myghte sette ypon youre bak." "Certes," quod he, "theron shal be no lak, Mighte I yow helpen with myn herte blood." He stoupeth doun, and on his bak she stood, And caughte hire by a twiste, and up she gooth - Ladyes, I prey yow that ye be nat wrooth; I kan nat glose, I am a rude man - And sodeynly anon this Damyan Gan pullen up the smock, and in he throng. || And with that word she saw where Damian Sat under bush; to cough then she began, And with her slender finger signs made she That Damian should climb into a tree That burdened was with fruit, and up he went; For verily he knew her full intent, And understood each sign that she could make,

"If you'd but grant me, and for God's dear sake, That this pear-tree within your arms you'd take For well I know that you do not trust me, Then I could climb up well enough," said she, "So I my foot might set upon your back." "Surely," said he, "thereof should be no lack, Might I so help you with my own heart's blood." So he stooped down, and on his back she stood, And gaver herself a twist and up went she. Ladies, I pray you be not wroth with me; I cannot gloze, I'm an unclutured man. For of a sudden this said Damian Pulled up her smock and thrust both deep and long. ||

media type="file" key="Merchant - 5.mp3"

Citations: Middle and Modern English- http://www.librarius.com/canttran/merchtrfs.htm Man hiding in tree: http://www.flickr.com/photos/messias/1032752262/ Key: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=giving+key&m=text Note: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=love+note&page=3 Knight: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=knight+with+ladies&m=text Woman: http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&q=woman+climbing+tree&btnG=Search+Image Holding Hands: http://www.krftp.com/kenny/Electronic%20Portfolio/China%20Holding%20Hands%20for%20portfolio.jpg Man Thinking: http://www.mattwardman.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/q-man-thinking-41.gif Woman Shocked: http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumbimg_213/11963576687QzmZJ.jpg