The sely housbonde, algate he moot paye,
He moot us clothe, and he moot us arraye,
Al for his owene worshipe richely,
In which array we daunce jolily.
And if that he noght may, par aventure,
Or ellis list no swich dispence endure,
But thynketh it is wasted and ylost,
Thanne moot another payen for oure cost,
Or lene us gold, and that is perilous.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Shipman’s Tale. Was the wealthy merchant foolish for taking on a beautiful wife who likes a good time? For he is finding that she is spends a lot of his money on clothes, entertaining and throwing and attending lavish balls, which is draining his income. Money is the merchant’s top priority and he views everthing as a transaction, including his marriage relationship.