| | Here endith the Pardoneris tale . | |
| | And begynneth the Shipmannys tale . | |
| | A | Marchaunt somtyme was at seynt denys | |
| | That riche was wherfore men held him wise | |
| | A wyf he hadde of excellent beaute | |
| | And compenable and reuelons was she | |
| 5 | Whiche thing causith more dispence | |
| | Than worth is al the fauour and reuerence | |
| | That men hem doon at festis and at daunsis | |
| | Suche salutacions and countenauncis | |
| | Passin as doth a shadow vp on a wal | |
| 10 | But wo is hym that paien muste for al | |
| | The sely husbonde algate he must paye | |
| | He muste vs bothe clothe and eke araye | |
| | For his owen worship ful richely | |
| | In whiche aray we daunsyn Iolily | |
| 15 | And yf that he naught paye perauenture | |
| | Orellis list not suche spencis endure | |
| | But thynkith it is wastid and y lost | |
| | Than muste another paye for our cost | |
| | Or lene vs golde and that is parlous | |
| 20 | This nobil Marchaunt held a nobil hous | |
| | For whiche he hadde so greet repeir | |
| | For his largenes and for his wyf was feir | |
| | That folie is but herkenyth to my tale | |
| | Among alle thyse gestis grete and smale | |
| 25 | Ther was a monk a fair man and a bold | |
| | I trow that . xxx . winter he was old | |
| | That euer in one was drawyng to that place | |
