¶ Incipit prologus vxoris de Bathe [on leaf 67]
Experience / though noon auctoritee
Were in this world / is right I-now for me
To speken of woo / that is in mariage
ffor lordynges / syn I twelue ȝer was of age
Line 4
Thanked be god / that is eterne on lyue
husbondes at the chirche doore / haue I had fyue
If I so often myght / han wedded be
And alle weren worthy men / in here degree
Line 8
But me was told / nought longe agon is
That sithen Crist / ne went neuere but oonys
To weddyng / in the Cane of Galilee
That by the same ensaumple / taught he me
Line 12
That I ne wedded / shuld be but ones
loo herkene which / a sharp word / for the nones
Beside a welle / ihesus god and man
Spak in repreue / of the Samaritan
Line 16
Thow hast I-had / fyue husbondes quod he
And that ilke man / which that now hath the
Is nat thyn husbonde / thus seide he certeyn
What that he ment ther-by / I can nought seyn
Line 20
But that I aske why / that the fifte man
Was noon husbonde / to the Samaritan
how many myght she haue / in mariage
Ȝet herd I neuere / tellen in myn age
Line 24
