The Canterbury Tales · The Merchant’s Tale · The Prologue 2738

“Weeping and wailing, care and other sorrow,

I have enough, on even and on morrow,”

Quoth the Merchánt, “and so have other mo’,

That wedded be; I trow2739 that it be so;

For well I wot it fareth so by me.

I have a wife, the worstë that may be,

For though the fiend to her y-coupled were,

She would him overmatch, I dare well swear:

Why should I you rehearse in speciál

Her high malíce? she is a shrew at all.2740

There is a long and largë difference

Betwixt Griselda’s greatë patience,

And of my wife the passing cruelty.

Were I unbounden, all so may I thé,2741

I wouldë never eft2742 come in the snare.

We wedded men live in sorrow and care;

Assay it whoso will, and he shall find

That I say sooth, by Saint Thomas of Ind,

As for the morë part; I say not all⁠—

God shieldë2743 that it shouldë so befall.

Ah! good Sir Host, I have y-wedded be

These moneths two, and morë not, pardie;

And yet I trow2744 that he that all his life

Wifeless hath been, though that men would him rive

Into the heartë, could in no mannére

Tellë so much sorrów, as I you here

Could tellen of my wifë’s cursedness.”2745

“Now,” quoth our Host, “Merchánt, so God you bless,

Since ye so muchë knowen of that art,

Full heartily I pray you tell us part.”

“Gladly,” quoth he; “but of mine owen sore,

For sorry heart, I tellë may no more.”