Alphabet of tales : an English 15th century translation of the Alphabetum narrationum of Etienne de Besançon, from Additional MS. 25,719 of the British Museum / by Etienne de Besançon

DXXVII.
Mulierem tangere non est bonum.

Thar̛ was a man̛ of religion̛ þat on̛ a tyme went o-gateward̛ [Latin, cum matre sua iter faceret.] with his moder. And when̛ þai come vnto a watyr, & he sulde bere our his moder, he [MS. & he.] tuke his handis & wappid̛ þaim in his skirte, at he sulde not tuche þe handis of his moder. And when̛ he had born̛ hur our, sho askid̛ hym̛ whi he did so. And he ansswerd̛ agayn̛ & said̛, "þe body of a womman̛ is fyre, & becauce I thoght what wommen̛ er, þerfor I wold̛ not tuche þe for pereƚƚ þat mot happen̛ þer vppon̛."

• ... Mulier debet cauere ne MS. ne donis ornatu. ornatu, vel pulcritudine, vel alloquio provocet virum. Supra de abscondere.
• ... Mulier casta est amanda. Supra de castitate, ij.
• ... Mulieribus naturaliter inest compassio. Supra de compassione, ij.
• ...Mulier diligenter debet custodiri. Supra de ffilia.

• ...
• ...Mulier vltro se ingerit viro. Supra de castitate, v, et de luxuria, i.
• ...Mulier amore castitatiseciam propria membra corporis debet contempnere. Supra de castitate, iij.
• ...Mulier amore castitatis eciam propriam patriam debet relinquere. Supra de Clemente.
• ...Mulier amore castitatis eciam corpus proprium exponit periculo. Vt supra.
• ...Mulieris cohabitacio non est secura viro. Supra de cruce, ij, et de carne, i.