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The Merchant

There was a merchant with forked beard, and girt
In motley gown, and high on horse he sat,
Upon his head a Flemish beaver hat;
His boots were fastened rather elegantly.
His spoke his notions out right pompously,(5)
Stressing the times when he had won, not lost.
He would the sea were held at any cost
Across from Middleburgh to Orwell town.
At money-changing he could make a crown.
This worthy man kept all his wits well set;(10)
There was no one could say he was in debt,
So well he governed all his trade affairs
With bargains and with borrowings and with shares.
Indeed, he was a worthy man withal,
But, sooth to say, his name I can’t recall.(15)

• England was involved in trade with Flanders (modern-day Holland and Belgium) at this time; the merchant is a typical businessman in this trade
• belted
• multicolored cloth
• coin
• truth

1. Notes
2. Reading Pointers for Sharper Insights
3. The General Prologue
   1. The General Prologue
   2. The Knight
   3. The Squire
   4. The Yeoman
   5. The Prioress
   6. The Monk
   7. The Friar
   8. The Merchant
   9. The Clerk
   10. The Five Guildsmen
   11. The Cook
   12. The Salior
   13. The Physician
   14. The Wife of Bath
   15. The Parson
   16. The Plowman
   17. The Miller
   18. The Manciple
   19. The Reeve
   20. The Summoner
   21. The Pardoner
4. The Knight’s Tale
5. The Miller’s Prologue
6. The Miller’s Tale
7. The Wife of Bath’s Prologue
8. The Tale of the Wife of Bath
9. The Pardoner’s Tale
10. The Nun’s Priest’s Prologue
11. The Nun’s Priest’s Tale
12. Copyright