The Merchant's Tale Quotes

Question 1

this sike

Answer 1

this sike Damyan in Venus fyr

Question 2

Hye on horse

Answer 2

Hye on horse he sat, upon his heed a flaundryssh bever hat

Question 3

Old fish

Answer 3

Old fish and young flessh

Question 4

who kan be so

Answer 4

who kan be so buxom as a wyf?

Question 5

And she obeyeth

Answer 5

And she obeyeth, be hire lief or looth

Question 6

if yow tolde

Answer 6

if yow tolde of every scrit and bond

Question 7

that in sovereyne bontee

Answer 7

that in sovereyne bontee, nis noon but God, but neither he ne she.

Question 8

Dayman sitteth…among

Answer 8

Damyan sitteth…among the fresshe leves grene

Question 9

To love him best

Answer 9

To love him best of any creature, Though he namoore hadde than his sherte.

Question 10

the tresons whiche

Answer 10

the tresons whiche that wommen doon to man

Question 11

but men been

Answer 11

but men been evere untrewe

Question 12

That womman is for

Answer 12

That womman is for mannes helpe ywroght

Question 13

beautee hadde greet

Answer 13

beautee hadde greet renoun, Al were it so she were of smal degree

Question 14

his fresshe

Answer 14

His fresshe May, his paradis, his make

Question 15

‘I am King

Answer 15

‘I am King’ ‘And Iquod she a queene of Fayerye’

Question 16

I wol noon

Answer 16

I wol noon oold wyf han in no manere

Question 17

So I my foot

Answer 17

So I my foot myghte sette upon youre bak

Question 18

she rente it

Answer 18

she rente it al to cloutes atte laste

Question 19

she inwith

Answer 19

She inwith hir bosom hyd

Question 20

in warm wex

Answer 20

in warm wex hath imprinted the wyke

Question 21

but men been

Answer 21

but men been evere untrewe

Question 22

a yong thyng

Answer 22

a yong thyng may men gye, right as men may warm wex with handes plye

Question 23

she may be

Answer 23

she may be your purgatorie

Question 24

I have a wyf

Answer 24

I have a wyf, the worst that may be

Question 25

her be like Sarah

Answer 25

her be like Sarah and Rebecce

Question 26

He swyved thee,

Answer 26

He swyved thee, I saugh it with myne yen

Question 27

me reweth soore

Answer 27

Host: ‘me reweth soore I am unto hire tyed’

Question 28

Were it for hoolinesse

Answer 28

Were it for hoolinesse or for dotage, I kan nat seye

Question 29

Though I be hoor,

Answer 29

Though I be hoor, I fare as dooth a tree

Question 30

Man may do no sinne

Answer 30

Man may do no sinne with his wyf. Ne hurte himselven with his owene knyf

Question 31

gan pullen up the

Answer 31

gan pullen up the smok, and in he throng

Question 32

His pleyin worth

Answer 32

His pleying worth a bene

Question 33

Ravisshed in

Answer 33

Ravisshed in a traunce...Ravisshed on his lady May

Question 34

Merchant: I wolde nevere

Answer 34

Merchant: I wolde nevere eft comen in the snare

Question 35

Thanne is a wyf

Answer 35

Thanne is a wyf the fruit of his tresor

Question 36

Proserpina: 'that in sovereyne

Answer 36

Proserpina: ‘that in sovereyne bontee, nis noon but God, but neither he ne she.’

Question 37

Pluto: 'the tresons whice

Answer 37

Pluto: ‘the tresons whiche that wommen doon to man’

Question 38

stille as stoon

Answer 38

stille as stoon...as blind as a stoon

Question 39

I warne yow wel, it is

Answer 39

I warne yow wel, it is no childes pley

Question 40

the slakke skyn

Answer 40

the slakke skyn aboute his nekke shaketh

Question 41

There wiste no wight

Answer 41

There wiste no wight that he was in dette

Question 42

Hir myddel small, hir

Answer 42

Hir myddel small, hire armes longe and sklendre