Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400. The Canterbury tales :
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The Merchant's Prologue
1213: Wepyng and waylyng, care and oother sorwe
1214: I knowe ynogh, on even and a-morwe,
1215: Quod the marchant, and so doon other mo
1216: That wedded been. I trowe that it be so,
1217: For wel I woot it fareth so with me.
1218: I have awyf, the worste that may be;
1219: For thogh the feend to hire ycoupled were,
1220: She sholde I yow reherce in special
1221: What sholde I yow reherce in special
1222: Hir hye malice? she is a shrewe at al.
1223: Ther is a long and large difference
1224: Bitwix grisildis grete pacience
1225: And of my wyf the passyng crueltee.
1226: Were I unbounden, also moot I thee!
1227: I wolde nevere eft comen in the sanre.
1228: We wedded men lyven in sorwe and care.
1229: Assaye whoso wole, and he shal fynde
1230: That I seye sooth , by seint thomas of ynde,
1231: As for the moore part, I sey nat alle.
1232: God shilde that it sholde so bifalle!
1233: A! goode sire hoost, I have ywedded bee
1234: Thise monthes two, and moore nat, pardee;
1235: And yet, I trowe, he that al his lyve
1236: Wyflees hath been, though that men wolde him ryve
1237: Unto the herte, ne koude in no manere
1238: Tellen so muchel sorwe as I now heere
1239: Koude tellen of my wyves cursednesse!
1240: Now, quod oure hoost, marchaunt, so God yow blesse,
1241: Syn ye so muchel knowen of that art
1242: Ful hertely I pray yow telle us part.
1243: Gladly, quod he, but of myn owene soore,
1244: For soory herte, I telle may namoore.