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

Dayman sitteth…among

Answer 7

Damyan sitteth…among the fresshe leves grene

Question 8

To love him best

Answer 8

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

Question 9

but men been

Answer 9

but men been evere untrewe

Question 10

That womman is for mannes

Answer 10

That womman is for mannes helpe ywroght

Question 11

beautee hadde greet

Answer 11

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

Question 12

his fresshe

Answer 12

His fresshe May, his paradis, his make

Question 13

‘I am King

Answer 13

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

Question 14

I wol noon

Answer 14

I wol noon oold wyf han in no manere

Question 15

So I my foot

Answer 15

So I my foot myghte sette upon youre bak

Question 16

she rente it

Answer 16

she rente it al to cloutes atte laste

Question 17

she inwith

Answer 17

She inwith hir bosom hyd

Question 18

in warm wex

Answer 18

in warm wex hath imprinted the wyke

Question 19

but men been

Answer 19

but men been evere untrewe

Question 20

a yong thyng

Answer 20

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

Question 21

she may be your

Answer 21

she may be your purgatorie

Question 22

I have a wyf, the

Answer 22

I have a wyf, the worst that may be

Question 23

her be like Sarah

Answer 23

her be like Sarah and Rebecce

Question 24

He swyved thee,

Answer 24

He swyved thee, I saugh it with myne yen

Question 25

me reweth soore

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Were it for hoolinesse

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Though I be hoor,

Answer 27

Though I be hoor, I fare as dooth a tree

Question 28

Man may do no sinne

Answer 28

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

Question 29

gan pullen up the

Answer 29

gan pullen up the smok, and in he throng

Question 30

His pleyin worth

Answer 30

His pleying worth a bene

Question 31

Ravisshed in

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Merchant: I wolde nevere

Answer 32

Merchant: I wolde nevere eft comen in the snare

Question 33

Thanne is a wyf

Answer 33

Thanne is a wyf the fruit of his tresor

Question 34

Proserpina: 'that in sovereyne

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Pluto: 'the tresons whiche

Answer 35

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

Question 36

stille as stoon

Answer 36

stille as stoon...as blind as a stoon

Question 37

I warne yow wel, it is

Answer 37

I warne yow wel, it is no childes pley

Question 38

the slakke skyn

Answer 38

the slakke skyn aboute his nekke shaketh

Question 39

There wiste no wight

Answer 39

There wiste no wight that he was in dette

Question 40

Hir myddel small, hir

Answer 40

Hir myddel small, hire armes longe and sklendre