Geoffrey Chaucer, The Merchant's Prologue (A Minimalist Translation) Poem by Forrest Hainline

Geoffrey Chaucer, The Merchant's Prologue (A Minimalist Translation)

1213 "Weeping and wailing, care and other sorrow
1214 I know enough, on even and a morrow, "
1215 Said the Merchant, "and so do others more
1216 That wedded be. I trust that it be so,
1217 For well I know it fares so with me.
1218 I have a wife, the worst that may be;
1219 For though the fiend to her coupled were,
1220 She would him overmatch, I dare well swear.
1221 What should I you rehearse in special
1222 Her high malice? She is a shrew at all.
1223 There is a long and large difference
1224 Between Griselda's great patience
1225 And of my wife the passing cruelty.
1226 Were I unbound, also must I thee,
1227 I would never again come in the snare.
1228 We wedded men live in sorrow and care.
1229 Assay whoso will, and he shall find
1230 That I say sooth, by Saint Thomas of Ynde,
1231 As for the more part -I say not all.
1232 God shield that it should so befall!

1233 "Ah, good sir Host, I have wedded be
1234 These months two, and more not, pardee;
1235 And yet, I trust, he that all his life
1236 Wifeless has been, though that men would have him rive
1237 Unto the heart, nor could in no manner
1238 Tell so much sorrow as I now here
1239 Could tell of my wife's cursedness! "
1240 "Now, " said our Host, "Merchant, so God you bless,
1241 Since you so much know of that art
1242 Full heartily I pray you tell us part."

1243 "Gladly, " said he, "but of my own sorrow,
1244 For sorry heart, I tell may no more."