| At Cristemasse mery mowe ye daunce | |
| Ye sekyn lond and se for your wynnyngis | |
30 | And as wyse folk ye knowe al the state | |
| Of reygnes that been fadir of tidingis | |
| And talis bothe of pees and of debaat | |
| I were right now of a tale desolaat | |
| Ne were that a Marchant gon is many a yere | |
35 | Me taughte a tale whiche ye mowe here | |
| I | N Surry whylom duellyd a companye | |
| Of Chapmen riche therto sad & trewe | |
| That wyde where senten their spicerye | |
| Clothis of gold & satyn riche of hewe | |
40 | Her chaffare was so trusty and so newe | |
| That euery wight hath deynte of her chaffare | |
| And eke with hem to selle here ware | |
| Now fyl it that the maistris of the sort | |
| Haue shapen hem to Rome forto wende | |
45 | Were it for chapman hood or for disport | |
| Non othir message wold they thyder sende | |
| But cam hem self to Rome this is the ende | |
| And in suche place as thoughte hem auantage | |
| For her entent they takyn her herbygage | |
50 | Soiourned haue thyse marchantis in that toun | |
| A certeyn tyme as fyl for her plesaunce | |
| But so be fyl that the excellent renoun | |
| Of the Emperours doughter dame Constance | |
| Reported was with euery circumstaunce | |
55 | Vnto thyse marchantis in suche wyse | |
| Fro day to day as y shal you deuyse | |