Английская поэзия XIV–XX веков в современных русских переводах (билингва)

When haruest is done all thing placed and set,
for saultlishe and herring then laie for to get:
The byeng of them, comming first unto rode,
shal pay for thy charges thou spendest abrode

Thy saultfishe well chosen, not burnt at the stone,

or drye them thyselfe, (hauing skill is a lone:)
Brought salfe to thy house would be packed up drie,
with pease strawe betweene, least it rot as it lie.

Or euer thou ride with thy seruauntes compound,

to carry thy muckhilles on thy barley ground:
One aker wel compast is worth akers three,
at haruest thy barne shall declare it to thee.

This good shalt thou learne, with thy riding about,

the prises of thinges, all the yere thoroughout:
And what time is best for to sell that thou haue,
and how for to bye to be likely to saue.

For bying and selling doth wonderfull well,

to him that hath wit how to by and to sell:
But chopping and chaungeing, may make such a breck,
that gone is thy winninges for sauing thy neck.

The riche man his bargaines are neuer unsought,

the seller will fynde him he nede not take thought:
But herein consisteth a part of our text,
who byeth at first hand and who at the next.

He byeth at first hand that ventreth his golde,

he byeth at second that dare not be bolde:
He byeth at third hand that nedes borrow must,
who byeth of him than shall pay for his lust.

When euer thou bargain for better or wurse,

let alway one bargain remain in thy purse:
Good credit doth well, but good credit to kepe,
is pay and dispatche him or euer thou slepe.

Be mindeful abrode of thy Mighelmas spring,

for theron dependeth a marueilous thing:
Where gentiles use walking with hawkes on their handes.
Good husbandes with grasing doe purchase their landes.

And as thou come homeward bye xl. good crones,

and fatte me the bodies of those sely bones:
With those and thy swine, or and shrouetyde be past,
thy folke shal fare well, where as others shal fast.

Thy saffron plot pared in saint mary daies,

for pleasure and profit shal serue many waies:
With twenty foote square knowing how for to doo,
shal stede both thine own house and next neighbour too.

September