There was a Merchant with a forking beardAnd motley dress; high on his horse he sat,Upon his head a Flemish beaver hatAnd on his feet daintily buckled boots.He told of his opinions and pursuitsIn solemn tones, he harped on his increaseOf capital; there should be sea-police(He thought) upon the Harwich-Holland ranges;He was expert at dabbling in exchanges.This estimable Merchant so had setHis wits to work, none knew he was in debt,He was so stately in administration,In loans and bargains and negotiation.He was an excellent fellow all the same;To tell the truth I do not know his name.
In Geoffrey's Canterbury Tales
The Merchant
There was a Merchant with a forking beardAnd motley dress; high on his horse he sat,Upon his head a Flemish beaver hatAnd on his feet daintily buckled boots.He told of his opinions and pursuitsIn solemn tones, he harped on his increaseOf capital; there should be sea-police(He thought) upon the Harwich-Holland ranges;He was expert at dabbling in exchanges.This estimable Merchant so had setHis wits to work, none knew he was in debt,He was so stately in administration,In loans and bargains and negotiation.He was an excellent fellow all the same;To tell the truth I do not know his name.
There was a Merchant with a forking beardAnd motley dress; high on his horse he sat,Upon his head a Flemish beaver hatAnd on his feet daintily buckled boots.He told of his opinions and pursuitsIn solemn tones, he harped on his increaseOf capital; there should be sea-police(He thought) upon the Harwich-Holland ranges;He was expert at dabbling in exchanges.This estimable Merchant so had setHis wits to work, none knew he was in debt,He was so stately in administration,In loans and bargains and negotiation.He was an excellent fellow all the same;To tell the truth I do not know his name.
trade rutes
There was a Merchant with a forking beardAnd motley dress; high on his horse he sat,Upon his head a Flemish beaver hatAnd on his feet daintily buckled boots.He told of his opinions and pursuitsIn solemn tones, he harped on his increaseOf capital; there should be sea-police(He thought) upon the Harwich-Holland ranges;He was expert at dabbling in exchanges.This estimable Merchant so had setHis wits to work, none knew he was in debt,He was so stately in administration,In loans and bargains and negotiation.He was an excellent fellow all the same;To tell the truth I do not know his name.
