A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the englishe tongue compacte in a matter concernyng two maner of mariages, made and set foorth by Iohn̄ Heywood.

The fyrste parte. (Book 1)

¶The fyrst chapiter.

OF myne acquayntaunce a certayne yong man (Beyng a resorter to me nowe and than) Resorted lately, showyng hym selfe to be Desyrous, to talke at length alone with me. And as we for this a mete place had woon, With this olde prouerbe, this yong man begoon. who so that knewe, what wolde be dere, Shulde nede be marchaunt but one yere. Though it (quoth he) thyng impossible be The full sequele of present thynges to fore se: Yet doth this prouerbe prouoke euery man Politikely (as man possibly can) In thyngs to come after, to cast iye before To cast out or kepe in, thyngs for fore store. As the prouision maie seme most profitable, And the commoditee moste commendable. Into this consideracion I am wrought By two thyngs, which fortune to hāds hath brought. Two women I know, of which twayne the tone Is a mayde of flowryng age, a goodly one. Thother a wydowe, who so many yeres beares, That all her whitenesse lythe in her white heares. This mayde hath frēds riche, but riches hath she non Nor none can hir hands get to lyue vpon. This wydow is very riche, and hir frends bare. And both these, for loue to wed with me fonde are. And both wolde I wed, the better and the wurs. The tone for her person, the tother for her purs.

They woo not my substance, but my selfe they wooe. Goodes haue I none, and small good can I dooe. On this poore mayd hir riche frends I clerely know (So she wed where thei will) great gifts will bestow. But with theim all I am so farre from fauer, That she shall sure haue no grote, if I haue her. And I shall haue as littell, all my frends swere, Except I folowe theim, to wedde els where. The poore frends of this riche widow bere no sway, But wed hir and wyn welth, whan I will I may. Now whiche of these twayne is like to be derest In peyne or pleasure to stycke to me nerest, The depth of all doubts with you to consyder, The sence of the saied prouerbe sendth me hither. The best bargain of both quickely to haue skande: For one of them thynke I to make out of hande.

¶The seconde chapiter.

FRende (quoth I) welcome, & with right good will, I will as I can your will herein fulfyll. And two thyngs I see in you, that shewe you wise. Fyrst in weddyng or ye wed, to aske aduise. The seconde, your yeres beyng yong it apperes, Ye regarde yet good prouerbs of olde ferne yeres. And as ye grounde your tale vpon one of theim Furnishe we this tale with euerychone of theim. Suche as may fitly fall in mynde to dispose, Agreed (quoth he.) Then (quoth I) first this disclose. Haue you to this olde wydowe, or this yong mayde, Any wordes of assurance or this tyme sayde?

Nay in good faithe sayd he. Well than (sayd I) I will be playne with you, and may honestly. And plainly to speake, I lyke you (as I sayde) In two fore tolde things, but a thyrd haue I wayde, Not so muche to be lyked, as I can deme, Whiche is in your weddyng your haste so extreme. The best or wurst thyng to man for this lyfe Is good or yll choosyng his good or yll wyfe. I meane not onely of body good or bad, But of all thyngs meete or vnmeete to be had Suche as at any tyme by any meane maie Betwene man and wyfe, loue encrease or decaie. Where this grounde in any hed, grauely grateth All fyry haste to wed, it soone rebateth. Som thyngs that prouoke yong men to wed in haste Show after weddyng that haste maketh waste. Whan tyme hath tourned white suger to white salte, Than suche folke se, softe fyre maketh swete malte. And that deliberacion dothe men assyst Before they wed, to beware of had I wyst. And than theyr tymely weddyng doth clere appere, That they were early vp, and neuer the nere. And ones theyr hasty heate a lyttell controlde, Than perceyue they well, hotte loue sone colde. And whan hasty witlesse myrth is mated weele, Good to be mery and wyse, they thynke and feele. Haste in weddyng som man thynkth his owne auaile Whan haste proueth a rod made for his owne taile. And whan he is well beaten with his owne rodde, Than seeth he haste and wisedom, thyngs far odde.

And that in all, or moste thyngs, wisht at nede, Moste tymes he seeth, the more haste the lesse spede. In les thīgs thē wedding, haste showth haste mās fo So that the hasty man neuer wanteth wo. These sage sayd sawes yf ye take so profounde, As ye take that, by whiche ye toke your grounde, Than fynd ye groūded cause by these now here tolde▪ In haste to weddyng your haste to withholde. And though they seme wyues for you neuer so fyt, Yet let not harmfull haste so far out ren your wyt, But that ye harke to here all the holle some, That maie please or displease you in tyme to come. Thus by these lessons ye may learne good cheape In weddyng and all thyng, to loke or ye leape. Ye haue euen nowe well ouerlookt me (quoth he) And lepte very nye me to. For I agree. That these sage sayinges dooe weightily waie Agaynst haste in all thyng: but I am at baye. By other parables of lyke weighty weyght, Which haste me to weddyng as ye shal here streyght.

¶The thyrde chapiter.

HE that will not whan he maie, Whan he woulde, he shall haue naie. Beautie or ryches the tone of the tweyne Nowe maie I chose, and whiche me lyst obteyne. And if we determyne me, this mayde to take, And than tract of tyme trayne her me to forsaek: Than my beautyfull mariage lythe in the dyke, And neuer for beautie, shall I wedde the lyke.

Nowe if we awarde me this wydowe to wedde, And that I dryue of tyme, tyll tyme she be dedde: Than farewell ryches, the fat is in the fyre. And neuer shall I to lyke riches aspire. And a thousande folde wolde it greue me more, That she in my faute shulde dye one houre before, Than one minute after. Than haste must prouoke, Whan the pygge is proferd to holde vp the poke. Whan the sonne shynth make hey. whiche is to saie, Take tyme whan tyme cōmth, lest tyme stele awaie. And one good lesson to this purpose I pyke From the smiths forge, whan thyron is hote stryke. The sure sea man seeth, the tyde tarieth no man. And longe delaies or absence somewhat to skan. Sens that that one wyll not an other wyll, Delays in wooers must nedes theyr spede spyll. And touchyng absence, the full accompt who somthe Shall se, as faste as one gothe an nother comthe. Tyme is tyckell. and out of syght out of mynde. Than catche & hold while I may fast bind fast fynde. Blame me not to haste, for feare myne eie be blerde. And therby the fat cleane flyt fro my berde. Where wooers hoppe in & out, long tyme may bryng Hym that hoppeth best, at last to haue the ryng. I hoppyng without, for a ryng of a rushe. And whyle I at length debate and beate the bushe, There shall steppe in other men, & catche the burdes. And by longe tyme lost in many vayne wurdes Betwene these two wiuis, make slouth spede confoūd While betwene two stoles, my taile go to grounde.

By this, sens we se slouth muste brede a skab, Best sticke to the tone out of hande, hab or nab. Thus all your prouerbs inuehyng agaynst haste, Be answerd with prouerbs plaine & promptly plaste. Wherby, to purpose all this no further fits, But to shew, so many hedds so many wits. Whiche shewe as surely in all that they all tell, That in my weddyng I may euen as well Tary to longe, and therby come to late, As come to soone by haste in any rate. And proue this prouerbe, as the words thereof go, Haste or slouth herein worke noth•••• welth nor wo. Be it far or ny, weddyng is desteny, And hangyng lykewise, sayth that prouerbe, sayd I. Than wed or hang (quoth he) what helpth in y^e whole To haste or hang a loofe, happy man, happy dole. Ye deale this dole (quoth I) out at a wrong dur: For desteny in this case doth not so stur Agaynst mans indeuour, but man may direct His will, fore prouision to worke or neglect. But to shew y^t quick wedding may bryng good spede Somwhat to purpose, your prouerbs proue in dede. Howbeit, whether they counterpayse or out way The prouerbes, whiche I before them dyd lay, The triall therof we wyll lay a water, Tyll we trie more. For trying of whiche mater Declare all commoditees ye can deuyse, That by those two weddyngs to you can ryse.

¶The fourth chapiter.

I Will (quoth he) in bothe these cases streight show, What things as (I think) to me by them wil grow. And where my loue began there begyn will I. With this mayde, the peece peerelesse in myn eie. Whom I so fauour, and she so fauourth me, That halfe a death to vs a sonder to be. Affection eche to other dothe vs so moue, That well ny without foode we coulde liue by loue. For be I right sad, or right sicke, from her syght, Her presence absenteth all maladies quyght. Whiche seen, and that the great ground in mariage Standth vpon lykyng the parties personage, And than of olde prouerbs in openyng the packe, One shewth me openly in loue is no lacke. No lacke of lykyng, but lacke of lyuyng, Maie lacke in loue (quoth I) and brede yll cheuyng. Well as to that (saied he) harke this o thyng, What tyme I lacke not her, I lacke nothyng. But though we haue nought) nor nought we cā geat God neuer sendeth mouthe, but he sendeth meat. And a harde begynnyng maketh a good endyng. In space comth grace, and this further amendyng. Seldom comth the better, and lyke will to like. God sendth colde after clothes. And this I pike. She, by lacke of substance semyng but a sparke, Steynth yet the stoutest. For a leg of a larke Is better than is the body of a kyght. And home is homely, though it be poore in syght. These prouerbs for this parte shew such a flourishe, And then this partie dothe delite so nourishe,

That much is my bow bent to shoote at these marks, And kyl feare. when the sky falth we shal haue larks. All perils that fall may, who feareth they fall shall, Shall so feare all thyng, that he shall let fall all, And be more frayd thā hurt, if the thyngs wer doone. Feare may force a man to cast beyonde the moone. Who hopeth in gods helpe, his helpe can not sterte. Nothyng is impossible to a willyng herte. And will may wyn my herte, herein to consent, To take all thyng as it comthe, and be content. And here is (quoth he) in mariyng of this mayde, For courage and commoditee all myne ayde. Well saied (saied I) but a while kepe we in quenche All this case, as touchyng this poore yong wenche. And nowe declare your whole consideracion, What maner thyngs draw your imaginacion, Toward your weddyng of this widow ryche & olde. That shall ye (quoth he) out of hande haue tolde.

¶The fyfte chapiter.

THis wydowe beyng foule, and of fauour yll, In good behauour can veraie good skyll. Pleasauntly spoken, and a veraie good wyt, And at her table, whan we togither syt, I am well serued, we fare of the best. The meate good and holsome, and holsomly drest. Swete and softe lodgyng, and thereof great shyft. This felte and sene, with all implementes of thrift, Of plate and money suche cupbordes and cofers, And that without peyne I may wyn these profers,

Than couetyse bearyng Venus bargayn backe, Praisyng this bargain, saith, better leaue than lacke. And gredynesse, to drawe desire to this lore, Saieth, that the wise man saieth, store is no sore. Who hath many pease maie put the mo in the pot. Of two yls, chose the least while choyse lyth in lot. Sens lacke is an yll, as yll as man may haue, To prouide for the worst, while the best it selfe saue. Resty welth wylth me this wydow to wyn, To let the worlde wag, & take myne ease in myne yn. He must nedes swym, that is holde vp by the chyn. He laugth that wynth. And this threde finer to spyn, Maister promocion saieth, make this substance sure, If ryches bryng ones portly countenaunce in vre, Than shalt thou rule the rost all rounde about. And better to rule, than be ruled by the rout. It is saied: be it better be it wurs, Doo ye after hym that beareth the purs. Thus be I by this, ones le senior de graunde, Many that commaunded me, I shall commaunde. And also I shall to reuenge former hurts, Hold their noses to grinstone, and sit on their skurts, That erst sat on myne. And ryches may make Frends many ways. Thus better to gyue than take. And to make carnall appetite content Reason laboreth wyll to wyn wyls consent, To take lacke of beautie but as an eye sore. The faire and the foule, by darke are lyke store. As this prouerbe saieth, for quenchyng hot desyre, Foule water as soone as fayre, wyl quenche hot fire.

Where gyfts be gyuen freely, est west north or south, No man ought to loke a geuen hors in the mouth. And though hir mouth be foule, she hath a faire taile, I constre this text, as is moste myne auaile. In want of white teeth and yelow heares to behold, She flourisheth in white syluer and yelow gold. What though she be toothlesse and balde as a coote? Hir substance is shootanker, wherat I shoote. Take a peyne for a pleasure all wise men can. What, hungry doggs will eat d••rty puddyngs man. And here I conclude (quoth he) all that I knowe By this olde wydow, what good to me may grow.

¶The sixt chapiter.

YE haue (quoth I) in these conclusions founde Sundry thyngs, that veraie sauerly sounde. And bothe these long cases, being well vewde In one short question, we maie well inclewde Whiche is, whether best or wurst be to be ledde With ryches, without loue or beautie, to wedde: Or with beautee without rychesse for loue. This question (quoth he) inquerth all that I moue. It doth so (sayd I) and is nerely couched. But thanswere wil not so breuely be touched. And your selfe, to length it, taketh direct trade. For to all reasons, that I haue yet made, Ye seme more to seke reasons howe to contende, Than to the counsell of myne to condiscende. And to be playne, as I must with my freende, I perfitly feele euen at my fyngers eende.

So hard is your hand set on your halpeny: That my reasonyng your reason setteth nought by. But reason for reason, ye so styffely ley By prouerbe for prouerbe, that with you do wey, That reason onely shall herein nought moue you To here more than speake. wherfore I wil proue you With reason, assisted by experience. Whiche my selfe sawe, not long sens nor far hence. In a matter so like this fashond in frame, That none can be liker, it semthe euen the same. And in the same, as your selfe shall espy Eche sentence soothed with a prouerbe. welny, And at ende of the same, ye shall cleerely see Howe this short question shortly answerd maie bee. Ye mary (quoth he) now ye shoote ny the pricke. Practise in all, aboue all toucheth the quicke. Profe vpon practise, must take holde more sure, Than any reasonyng by gesse can procure. If ye bryng practise in place, without fablyng, I will banishe bothe haste and busy bablyng. And yet that promise to performe is mickell. For in this case my tong must oft tickell. Ye knowe well it is, as telth vs this olde tale, Meete, that a man be at his owne bridale. If he wyue well (quoth I) meete and good it were. Or els as good for hym an other were there. But for this your bridale I meane not in it, That silence shall suspend your speche euery whit, But in these mariages, whiche ye here meue, Sens this tale conteinth the counsell I can geue,

I wold se your eares attende with your tong, For aduise in bothe these weddyngs olde and yong. In whiche heryng, tyme seene when & what to talke, When your tong tyckleth, at will let it walke. And in these brydales, to the reasons of ours, Marke myne experyence in this case of yours.

¶The .vii. chapiter.

VVithin few yeres past, from Lōdon no far waie, Where I & my wife, w^t our poore houshold laie, Two yong men were abydyng, whom to discriue were I, in portraying persons dead or aliue, As counnyng and as quicke, to touche theim at full, As in that feate I am ignorant and dull, Neuer coulde I paynte, their pictures to allow, More lyuely, than to paynt the picture of yow. And as your thre persons shew one similitewd, So shew you thre one, in all thyngs to be vewd. Lyke wise a widowe and a mayd there did dwell, Alyke lyke the wydow and mayde ye of tell. The frends of theim foure in euery degree, Standyng in state as the frendes of you three. Those two men, eche other so hasted or taried, That those two women on one daie they maried. Into two houses, whiche next my house dyd stande, The one on the right, thother on the left hande. Both brydegromes bad me, I coulde do none other, But dyne with the tone, and sup with the tother. He that wedded this widow riche and olde, And also she, fauourd me so, that they wolde

Make me dine or sup ones or twise in a weke. This poore yong man and his make beyng to seke As oft, where they might eate or drinke, I them bad, Were I at home, to suche pittaunce as I had. Whiche cōmen conference suche confidence wrought In theim to me, that dede, worde, ne welny thought Chaunced among theim, what euer it weare, But one of the foure brought it streight to myn care. Wherby betwene these twayne, and their two wiues, Bothe for welthe and wo, I knew al theyr four liues. And sens the matter is muche intricate, Betwene syde and syde, I shall here separate All matters on bothe sydes, and than sequestrate, Thone syde, while thother be full reherste, in rate, As for your vnderstandyng maie best stande. And this yong poore couple shal come fyrst in hande. Who, the daie of weddyng and after, a while, Could not loke eche on other, but they must smile. As a whelpe for wantonnes in and out whipps, So plaied these tweyne, as mery as thre chipps. Ye there was god (quoth he) whan all is doone. Abyde (quoth I) it was yet but hony moone. The blacke oxe had not trode on his nor her foote. But er this branche of blys coulde reache any roote, The floures so faded, that in fiftene weekes, A man myght espie the chaunge in the cheekes, Both of this pore wretch, & his wife this pore wenche. Their faces told toies, y^e Totnam was turnd frenche And all their light laughyng turnd and translated Into sad syghyng, all myrth was amated.

And one mornyng tymely he tooke in hande, To make to my house, a fleeuelesse errande. Haukyng vpon me, his mynde herein to breake. Whiche I would not see, tyll he began to speake. Praying me to here hym. And I saied, I wolde. Wherwith this that foloweth forthwith he tolde.

¶The .viii. chapter.

I Am now driuen (quoth he) for ease of my herte, To you, to vtter part of myne inward smerte. And the matter concerneth my wife and me. Whose fathers and mothers long sens dead be. But vncles, with auntes and cosyns, haue wee Diuers riche on bothe sides, so that we dyd see, If we had wedded, eche, where eche kynred wolde, Neither of vs had lackt, either siluer or golde. But neuer coulde suite, on either syde obtayne One peny, to the one weddyng of vs twayne. And sens our one mariyng or marryng daie, Where any of theim se vs, they shrinke awaie, Solemnly swearyng, suche as maie geue ought, While they & we lyue, of theim we get right nought. Nor nought haue we, nor no waie ought can we get, Sauyng by borowyng, tyll we be in det So far, that no man any more will vs lende. Wherby, for lacke we bothe be at our witts ende. Wherof no wonder, sens the ende of our good, And begynnyng of our charge, to gither stood. But wyt is neuer good tyll it be bought. Howbeit whan bought wits to best price be brought:

Yet is one good forewyt worth two after wits. This payth me home lo, and full my foly hyts. For had I lookt afore, with indifferent eye, Though haste had made my thurst neuer so drye: Yet to drown this drought, this must I nedes thynk, As I wolde nedes brewe, so must I nedes drynk. The drynke of my bride cup I shulde haue forborne, Tyll temperance had tempred the taste beforne. I se nowe, and shall see whyle I am alyue, Who wedth or he be wise, shall dye er he thryue. He that will selle lawne, er he can folde it, He shall repent hym er he haue solde it. I reckned my weddyng a suger sweete spice, But reckners without their host must recken twice. And all though it were sweete for a weeke or twayne, Swete meate wil haue sowre sauce, I se now playne. Continuall penurie, whyche I must take, Telth me, better eye out than alwaie ake. Boldly and blyndly I ventred on this, How be it, who so bolde as blynde bayard is? And herein to blame any man, than shulde I raue. For I dyd it my selfe: and selfe do, selfe haue. But a daie after the fayre, comth this remors, For relefe: for though it be a good hors That neuer stumbleth, what praise can that auouche To iades, y^e breke their necks at first tryp or touche. And before this my first foile or breakneck fall, Subtilly lyke a shepe thought I, I shall Cut my cote after my cloth. Whan I haue her. But now I can smell, nothyng hath no sauer.

I am taught to know, in more haste thā good speede, How iudicare came into the Creede. My carefull wife in one corner wepeth in care, And I in an other, the purse is threde bare. This corner of our care (quoth he) I you tell, To craue therin your comfortable counsell.

¶The nynthe chapiter.

I Am sory (quoth I) of your pouertee, And more sory that I can nat succourye. If ye stur your nede myne almesse to stur, Than of trouth ye beg at a wrong mans dur. There is nothyng more vayne, as your selfe tell can, Than to beg a breeche of a bare arst man. I come to beg nothyng of you, quoth he, Saue your aduise, whiche maie my best waie be. How to wyn present salue, for this present sore. I am like thyll surgeon (saied I) without ••••ore Of good plasters. Howbeit suche as they are, Ye shall haue the best I haue. But fyrst declare, Where your & your wiues riche kynsfolke do dwell. Enuyronned about vs (quoth he) which shewth well, The nere to the churche, the ferther from god. Most parte of theim dwell within a thousand rod. And yet shall we catche a hare with a taber, As soone as catche ought of them, and rather. Ye plaie coleprophet (quoth I) who takth in hande, To knowe his answere before he doo his errande. What shulde I to them (quoth he) flyng or flyt, An vnbidden geast knoweth not where to syt.

Shame drawth me backe, beyng thus forsaken. Tushe man (quoth I) shame is as it is taken. And shame take him y^e shame thinkth, ye thinke none. Vnmynded, vnmoned, go make your mone. Well (quoth he) if I shall nede this viage make, With as good will as a beare goth to the stake, I will streight waie anker and hoise vp saile. And thitherward hie me in haste like a snaile. And home agayne hitherward quicke as a bee. Nowe for good lucke, cast an olde shoe after mee. And fyrst to myne vncle, brother to my father. By suite, I will assaie to wyn some fauer. Who brought me vp, and tyll my weddyng was don Loued me, not as his nephew, but as his son. And his heyre had I been, had not this chaunced, Of lādes & gooddes, which shuld me much auanced. Trudge (quoth I) to hym, and on your marybones, Crouche to the grounde, and not so ofte as ones, Speake any one worde hym to contrary. I can not tell that (quoth he) by seynt Mary. I knowe not howe I shall be pryckt to speake. Well (quoth I) better is to bowe than breake. Sens ye can nought wyn, yf ye can not please, Best is to suffer. For of suffrance comth ease. Cause causeth (quoth he) and as cause causeth me, So will I doo. And with this awaie went he. Yet whether his wyfe should go with hym or no, He sent hir to me to knowe er he wolde go. Wherto I saied, I thought best he went alone. And you (quoth I) to go streight as he is gone,

Among your kynsfolke likewise, if they dwell ny. Yes (quoth she) all round about euen here by. Namely an aunte, my mothers syster, who well (Sens my mother died) brought me vp frō the shell. And much wold haue giuē me, had mi weddīg grown Vpon hir fansy, as it grewe vpon myne own. And in likewise myne vncle her husband, was A father to me. Well (quoth I) let pas. And if your husband will his assent graunte, Go, he to his vncle, and you to your aunte. Yes this assent he graunteth before (quoth she) For he or this thought this the best waie to be. But of these two thynges he wolde determyne none Without aide. For two hedds are better than one. With this we departed, she to her husband, And I to dyner to theim on thother hande.

¶The tenth chapiter.

VVhan dyner was doon, I cam home agayne, To attende on the returne of these twayne. And er three houres to ende were fully tryde, Home came she fyrst, welcom (quoth I) and wel hyde. Ye a shorte horse is soone corryd (quoth shee) But the weaker hath the worse we all daie see. After our last partyng, my husband and I Departed, eche to place agreed formerly. Myne vncle and aunte on me dyd loure and glome. Bothe bad me god spede, but none bad me welcome. Their folkes glomd on me to, by whiche it appereth, The yong cocke croweth, as he the olde hereth.

At dyner they were, and made (for maners sake) A kynswoman of ours, me to table take. A false flattryng fylth, and if that be good, None better to beare two faces in a hood. She speaketh as she wolde crepe into your bosome. And whan the meale mouth hath won the bottome Of your stomake, than will the pikthanke it tell To your moste enmies, you to bie and sell. There is no mo suche tytifils in Englands grounde, To holde with the hare, and run with the hounde. Fyre in the tone hande, and water in the tother, The makebate bereth betwene brother and brother. She can wynk on the yew, and wery the lam, She maketh ernest matters of euery flymflam. She must haue an ore in euery mans barge. And no man chat ought in ought of her charge. Colle vnder canstyk she can plaie on both hands, Dissimulacion well she vnderstands. She is lost with an appull, and woon with a nut. Her tong is no edge toole, but yet it will cut. Hir chekes are purple ruddy like a horse plumme. And the bygge part of hir body is hir bumme. But littell tit all tayle, I haue herde er this, As high as two horseloues hir persone is. For priuy nyps or casts ouerthwart the shyns, He shall lese the maystry that with her begyns, She is, to turne loue to hate, or ioye to grefe A paterne, as mete as a rope for a thefe. Hir promise of frendshyp, for any auayle, Is as sure to holde, as an eele by the tayle.

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She is nother fishe nor fleshe nor good red hearyng. She maie doo muche there, and I therby fearyng She wolde spit her venym, thought it not euyll To set vp a candell before the deuyll. I clawd her by the backe in waie of a charme, To do me, not the more good, but the lesse harme. All that dyner tyme we syttyng to gether, Aboue all, with her I made fayre wether. Praying her in her eare, on my syde to holde, She therto swearyng by her false faith, she wolde. Streight after dyner myne aunte had no choyce, But other burst, or burst out in pylats voyce. Ye huswife, what wind blowth ye hyther thus right? Ye might haue knokt or ye came in, leaue is lyght. Better vnborne then vntaught, I haue herde saie, But ye be better fed than taught far awaie. Not veraie fat fed, saied this flebergebet, But nede hath no lawe, nede maketh her hither iet. She comth nece Ales (quoth she) for that is her name More for nede, then for kyndnes, payne of shame. Howbeit she can not lacke, for he fyndth that seekes, Louers lyue by loue, ye as larks lyue by leekes. Saied this Ales, muche more than half in mockage. Tushe (quoth myne aunte) these louers in dotage Think the groūd beares them not, but wed of corage They must in all haste, though a leafe of borage Myght bye all the substaunce that they can sell. Well aunt (quoth Ales) all is well that ends well. Ye Ales, of a good begynnyng comth a good ende. Not so good to borow, as be able to lende.

Nay in dede aunt (quoth she) it is sure so, She must nedes grāt, she hath wrought hir own wo. She thought Ales, she had sene far in a mylstone, Whan she gat a husband, and namely such one, As they by weddyng coulde not onely nought wyn, But lose both lyuyng and loue of all theyr kyn. Good aunt (quoth I) humbly I beseche ye, My trespase done to you forgyue it me. I know & knowlage, I haue wrought myn own pein But things past my hāds, I can not call agein. True (quoth Ales) things done, can not be vndoone, Be they done in due tyme, to late, or to soone. But better late then neuer to repent this. To late (quoth myne aunt) this repentance shewd is. Whan the stede is stolne, shut the stable durre. I tooke her for a rose, but she bredeth a burre. She comth to stycke to me now in her lacke, Rather to rent of my clothes fro my backe, Then to doo me one ferthyng wurth of good. I see daie at this little hole. For this bood Shewth what fruit wil folow. In good faith I saide In waie of peticion I sue for your aide. A well (quoth she) nowe I well vnderstande The walking staffe hath caught warmth in your hād A cleane fyngerd huswyfe and an ydel, folke saie, And will be lyme fyngerd I feare by my faie. It is as tender as a persons lemman. Nought can she doo, and what can she haue than? She maie not beare a fether, but she must brethe, She maketh so muche of her paynted shethe.

She thynkth her ferthyng good siluer I tell you. But for a ferthyng who euer dyd sell you Myght bost you to be better solde than bought. And yet thogh she be worth nought, nor haue nought Her gowne is gaier and better than myne. At her gaie gowne (quoth Ales) ye maie repyne. Howe be it as we maie we loue to go gaie all. Well well (quoth myne aunte) pride will haue a fall. For pride goeth before, and shame cometh after. Sure (saied Ales) in maner of mockyng laughter, There is nothyng in this worlde that agreeth wurs, Than dothe a ladies hert, and a beggers purs. But pride she shewth none, her looke reason alowth She lookth as butter wolde not melt in her mouth. Well the styll sow eats vp all the draffe Ales. All is not golde that glistreth by olde tolde tales. In youth she was towarde and without euyll, But soone ripe sone rotten, yong seynt olde deuill. How be it lo god sendth the shrewd cow short hornes. While she was in this house she sat vpon thornes. Eche one daie was three, tyll libertee was borow For one months ioy to bryng her holle lyues sorow. It were pitee (quoth Ales) she shulde myscary. For she is growne a goodly damsell mary. Ill weed growth fast Ales. wherby the corne is lorne. For surely the weed ouergroweth the corne. If I maie (as they saie) tell trouth without syn, Of trouthe she is a wolfe in a lambes skyn. Her herte is full hye, whan her eie is full lowe. A geast as good lost as founde, for all this showe.

But many a good cowe hath an euyll calfe. I speake this doughter in thy mothers behalfe. My syster (god rest her soule) whom though I bost, Was cald the floure of honestee in this coste. Aunt (quoth I) I take for father and mother Myne vncle and you aboue all other. When we wold, ye wold not be our chyld (quoth she.) Wherfore now whan ye wold, now will not we. Sens thou woldst nedes cast a waie thy selfe thus, Thou shalte sure synke in thyne owne syn for vs. Thou arte in dede borne veraie ny of my stocke, And ny is my kyrtell, but nere is my smocke. I haue one of myne owne, whom I must loke to. Ye aunte (quoth Ales) that thyng must ye nedes do. Nature compellth you to set your owne fyrst vp. For I haue heard saie, it is a deere colup, That is cut out of thowne fleshe. But yet aunte, So smal maie hir request be, that ye maie graunt To satisfie the same, whiche maie doo her good, And you no harme in thauancyng your owne blood. And cosyn (quoth she to me) what ye wold craue, Declare, that our aūt may know what ye wold haue. Nay (quoth I) be they wynners or loosers, Folke say alwaie, beggers shulde be no choosers. With thanks I shal take what euer myn aunt please, Where nothyng is, a little thyng doth ease. And by this prouerbe appereth this o thyng, That alwaie somewhat is better than nothyng. Hold fast whan ye haue it (quoth she) by my lyfe. The boy thy husbande, and thou the gyrle his wyfe,

Shall not consume that I haue laboured fore. Thou art yong inough, and I can worke no more. Kyt calot my cosyn sawe this thus far on And in myne aunts eare she whispreth anon Roundly these words, to make this matter whole. Aunt, leat theim that be a colde blowe at the cole. They shall for me Ales (quoth she) by gods blyst. She and I haue shaken handes. farewell vnkyst. And thus with a becke as good as a dieu gard, She flang fro me, and I from her hitherward. Beggyng of her booteth not the worth of a beane, Litle knoweth the fat sow, what the lean doth meane. Forsoth (quoth I) ye haue bestyrd ye well. But where was your vncle while all this fray fell? A sleepe by (quoth she) routyng like a hog. And it is euill wakyng of a slepyng dog. The bitche and her whelp might haue been a sleep to. For ought they in wakyng to me would do. Fare ye well (quoth she) I will now home streyte. And at my husbands hands for better news weyte.

¶The leuenth chapiter.

HE came home to me the next daie before noone. What tidīgs now (quoth I) how haue ye doone? Vpon our departyng (quoth he) yesterdaie Toward myn vncles, somwhat more than mydway, I ouertoke a man, a seruaunt of his, And a frende of myne. who gessed streight with this, What myne errand was, offeryng in the same, To do his best for me, and so in gods name.

Thyther we went, no body beyng within, But myne vncle, myne aunte, and one of our kyn. A madde knaue, as it were a raylyng gester, Not a more gagglyng gander hense to Chester. At syght of me he asked, who haue we there? I haue seen this gentylman, yf I wyst where. Howe be it lo, seldome sene, soone forgotten. He was (as he will be) somwhat cupshotten. Sixe daies in a weeke, beside the market daie, Malt is aboue wheate with hym, market men saie. But for as muche as I sawe, the same taunt Contented well myne vncle and myne aunt, And that I came to fall in, and not fall out, I forbare. or els his dronken red snout I wold haue made as oft chaunge from hew to hew, As doth the cocks of Inde. For this is trew. It is a small hop on my thomb. And Christ wot, It is wood at a woorde. little pot soone whot. Now mery as a cricket, and by and by, Angry as a waspe, though in bothe no cause why. But he was at home there, he myght speake his will. Euery cocke is proude on his owne dunghill. I shall be euen with hym herein whan I can. But he hauyng done, thus myne vncle began. Ye marchant, what attempth you, to attempt vs, To come on vs before the messanger thus. Romyng in and out, I here tell how ye tosse. But sonne, the rollyng stone neuer gatherth mosse. Lyke a pickpurs pilgrym, ye prie and ye proule At rouers, to robbe Peter and paie Poule.

I wys I knowe, er any more be tolde, That draff is your errand, but drynke ye wolde. Vncle (quoth I) of the cause, for whiche I com, I pray you paciently here the hole som. In feyth (quoth he) without any more sūmyng I know to beg of me is thy cūmyng. For sooth (quoth his man) it is so in deede. And I dare boldly bost, yf ye knew his neede, ye wold of pytee yet set hym in some stey. Sonne, better be enuied then pitied, folke sey. And for his cause of pitee (had he had grace) He myght this daie haue been clere out of the case. But now he hath well fisht and caught a frog. Where nought is to wed with, wise men flee the clog. Where I (quoth I) dyd not as ye wyld or bad, That repent I oft, and as oft wyshe I had. Sonne (quoth he) as I haue herde of myn olders, Wishers and wolders be no good householders. This prouerbe for a lesson, with suche other, Not lyke (as who seyth) the sonne of my brother, But lyke myne owne sonne, I ofte before shewd the, To cast her quyte of, but it wolde not be. Whan I wyld the any other where to go, Tushe, there were no mo maydens but malkyn tho. Ye had been lost to lacke your lust, whan ye lyst, By two miles trudgyng twise a weke to be kyst. I would ye had kyst, well I will no more sturre, It is good to haue a hatche before the durre. But how is my saying come to passe now? How oft dyd I prophecie this betwene you,

And your gynyfinee nycebycetur, Whan swete sugar shulde turne to soure salt petur? Wherby ye shulde in seyng, that ye neuer sawe. Thynke that you neuer thought. your selfe a dawe. But that tyme ye thought me a dawe. so that I Dyd no good in all my wordes than, saue onely Approued this prouerbe playn and true mater, A man may well bryng a horse to the water. But he can not make hym drynke without he will. Colts (quoth his man) may proue wel, with tatchis yl For of a ragged colt there comthe a good horse. If he be good now, of his yll past no forse. Well he that hangth hym selfe a sondaie (saied he) Shall hang styll vncut downe a mondaie for me. I haue hangd vp my hatchet, god spede hym well. A wonder thyng what thyngs these old thyngs tell. Cat after kynd good mouse hunt. And also Men sey, kynde wyll crepe where it can not go. These sentences to the I maie assyne By thy father, the said brother of myne. Thou folowist his stepps as ryght as a lyne. For when prouander pryckt him a lytle tyne, He dyd as thou didst. One, on whom he dyd dote, He wedded in haste, with whome he had no grote. And she as lytle with hym. wherby at last They bothe went a beggyng. And euen the like caste Haste thou. thou wilte beg or steale, or thou die, Take hede frende, I haue sene as far come as me. If ye seke to fynde thynges er they be lost, Ye shall fynde one daie you come to your cost.

This doo I but repete, for this I tolde the, And more I say. but I coulde not than holde the. Nor wyll not holde the now: nor suche foly feele, To set at my herte, that thou settest at thy heele. And as of my good, er I one grote gyue, I wyll se how my wyfe, and my selfe shall lyue. Shall I make the laugh now, & my selfe wepe then? Nay good childe, better childern wepe than old men. It is harde to wiue and thriue both in a yere. But by thy wyuyng, thryuyng doth so appere, That thou art past thryft, before thrifte begyn. But lo, will will haue will, though will wo wyn. Will is a good sonne, and will is a shrewde boy. And wilfull shrewde will hath wrought the this toy. A gentill white spurre, and at nede a sure speare. He standth now as he had a flea in his eare. How be it for any great courtesy he doth make, It semth the gentyll man hath eaten a stake. He beareth a dagger in his sleue, truste me, To kyll all that he meteth, prouder than he. Sir (quoth his man) he will no faute defende, But harde is for any man all fautes to mende. He is lyueles, that is fautles, olde folkes thought, He hath (quoth he) but one faute, he is nought. Helpe hym syr (quoth his man) sens ye easily maie. Two fals knaues nede no broker (quoth he) mē saie, The one knaue now crouchith, while thother crauith But to shewe what shall be his releuauith, Either after my deathe, yf my will be kept, Or duryng my lyfe, had I this halle hept

With golde, he maie his parte on good fryday eate, And fast neuer the wurs, for ought he shall geate. Nowe here is the doore, and there is the wey. And so (quoth he) farewell gentill Geffrey. Thus parted I from hym, beyng muche dismaied, Whiche his man saw, and (to comfort me) saied. What man, plucke vp your herte, be of good chere. After clouds blacke, we shall haue wether clere. What shuld your face thus agayn the woll be shorne For one fall? What mā al this wynd shakes no corne. Let this wynde ouerblow. a tyme I will spy, To take wynde and tyde with me, and spede therby. I thanke you (quoth I) but great boste & smal roste, Maketh vnsauery mouthes, where euer men oste. And this boste veraie vnsauourly serueth. For while the grasse groweth, the horse sterueth. Better one byrde in hande than ten in the wood. Rome was not bylt on a daie (quoth he) & yet stood Tyll it was fynysht, as some saie, full fayre. Your hert is in your hose all in dispayre. But as euery man saieth, a dog hath a daie. Shuld you a man, dispayre than any daie? nay. Ye haue many stryngs to the bowe. for ye know, Though I, hauyng the bent of your vncles bow, Can no waie bryng your bolt in the butte to stande, Yet haue ye other marks to roue at, at hande. The kays hang not all by one mans girdill man. Though nought wilbe woon here, I sey, yet ye can Taste other kynsmen, of whom ye maie geat, Here some and there some, many small make a great.

For come lyght wynnyngs with blessyngs or curses, Euermore light gaynes make heuy purses. Children lerne to crepe er they can lerne to go. And little and little, ye must lerne euen so. Throwe no gyft agayne at the giuers head, For better is halfe a lofe then no bread. I maie beg my bread (quoth I) for my kyn all, That dwelth ny, Well, yet (quoth he) & the worst fall, Ye maie to your kynsman, hens nine or ten mile, Rich without charge, whom ye saw not of long while That bench whistler (quoth I) is a pinchepeny. As fre of gyft, as a poore man of his eye. I shall get a fart of a dead man as soone, As a farthyng of hym, his dole is soone doone. He is so hye in thynstep, and so streight laste, That pryde and couetise withdrawth al repaste. Ye knowe what he hath been (quoth he) but ywis, Absence saieth playnely, ye knowe not what he is. Men know (quoth I) I haue herde nowe and then, Howe the market gothe by the market men. Further it is saied, who that saying weyth, It must nedes be true, that euery man seyth. Men saie also, childerne and fooles can not ly. And both man and chylde saieth, he is a heynsby. And my selfe knowth hym, I dare boldly brag, Euen as well as the begger knowth his bag. And I knew hym, not worth a good grey grote. He was at an ebbe. though he be nowe a flote, Poore as the poorest. And now nought he setteth By poore folke. For the paryshe prieste forgetteth,

That euer he hath been holy water clerke. By ought I can now here, or euer coulde marke, Of no man hath he pitee, or compassion. Well (quoth he) euery man after his fassion. He maie yet pitee you, for ought doth appere. It hapth in one houre, that hapth not in. vii. yere. Forspeake not your fortune, nor hyde not your nede. Noght vēter noght haue spare to speke spare to spede Vnknowne vnkyst. it is lost that is vnsought. As good seke nought (quoth I) as seke & find nought It is (quoth he) yll fyshyng before the net. But though we get litle, dere bought and far fet Are deinties for ladies. Go we both too. I haue for my maister thereby to doo. I maie breake a dishe there, and sure I shall Set all at sixe and seuen, to wyn some wyndfall. And I will hang the bell about the cats necke. For I will fyrst breake, and ieobard the fyrst checke. And for to wyn this praie, though the cost be myne, Leat vs present hym with a bottell of wyne. That were (quoth I) as muche almes or nede, As caste water in Thems. or as good a dede, As it is to helpe a dogge ouer a style. Than go we (quoth he) we lese tyme all this while. To folowe his fansy, we went togither. And toward nyght yesternight when we cam thither, She was within, but he was yet abrode. And streight as she sawe me, she swelde like a tode. Pattryng the diuels pater noster to her selfe. God neuer made a more croked crabbed elfe.

She bad hym welcome, but the wors for me. This knaue comth a beggyng, by me thought she. I smelde hir out, and had her streight in the wynde. She maie abyde no beggers of any kynde. They be bothe gredy gutts. all gyuen to get, They care not how. all is fyshe that comth to net. They know no ende of theyr good, nor begynnyng Of any goodnesse. suche is wretched wynnyng. Hunger droppeth euen out of bothe theyr noses. She gothe with broken shone and torne hoses. But who is wurs shod, than the shoemakers wyfe, With shops full of newe shapen shoes all her lyfe. Or who will doo lesse, than they that may doo moste. And namely of hir I can no waie make boste. She is one of theim, to whom god bad who. She will all haue, and will right nought forgo. She will not part with the paryng of hir nayles. She toyleth continually for auayles. Whiche lyfe she hath so long now kept in vre, That for no lyfe she wolde make chaunge, be sure. But this lesson lernde I, er I was yeres seuen, They that be in hell, wene there is none other heuen. She is nothyng fayre, but she is yll fauourd. And no more vnklenly, than vnswete sauourd. But hakney men saie, at mangy hakneys hyer A scalde hors is good ynough for a scabde squier. He is a knuckylbonyard veraie meete To matche a mynion nother fayre nor sweete. But a vengeable wyt, and all his delyte, To geue tauntes and checkes of most spitefull spite.

In that house commonly suche is the cast, A man shall as soone breake his neck as his fast. And yet nowe suche a gyd dyd her head take, That more for my mates than for maner sake, We had bread and drynke, and a chese very greate. But the greattest crabs be not all the best meate, For her crabbed chese, with all the gretnesse, Myght well abyde the fynenesse or swetnesse. Anon he cam in. and whan he vs saw, To my companyon kyndly he dyd draw. And a welfauourd welcom to hym he yeelds, Byddyng me welcom straungely ouer the feelds. With these wordes. ah yong mā I know your mater, By my faith you come to loke in my water. And for my comfort to your consolacion, Ye would, by my purs, gyue me a purgacion. But I am laxatiue ynough there otherwyse. This case (quoth this yonge man) contrary doth rise. For he is purs sycke. and lackth a phisicion. And hopeth vpon you in some condicion. Not by purgacion, but by restoratiue. To strength his weakenesse to kepe hym alyue. I can not (quoth he) for though it be my lot To haue speculacion, yet I practise not. I see muche, but I saie littell, and doo lesse. In this kynd of phisike. and what wolde ye gesse. Shall I consume my selfe, to restore hym now? Nay, backare (quoth Mortymer to his sow) He can before this tyme, no tyme assyne, In whiche he hath laied downe one peny by myne.

That euer might either make me bite or sup. And byr lady frēd. nought ley down nought take vp. To put me to coste, thou canst halfe a score myles. Out of thyne owne nest, seke me in these out yles. Where thou wilt not step ouer a strawe, I thynke, To wyn me the worth of one draught of drynke. No more than I haue wonne of all thy holle stocke. I haue been common Iacke to all that hole flocke. Whan ought was to do, I was common hackney. Folke call on the hors that will cary alwey. But euermore the common hors is worste shod. Desert and reward be oft tymes thyngs far od. At ende I myght put wy wynnyng in myne iye, And see neuer the wors. for ought I wan theim by. And now without theim, I lyue here at staues ende. Where I nede not borow, nor I will not lende. I praie you (quoth he) pitee me a poore man With somwhat, tyll I maie worke as I can. Toward your work (quoth he) ye make such tastings As approue you to be none of the hastyngs, Ye ren to worke in haste as nyne men helde ye. But whan so euer ye to worke must yelde ye. If your meete mate and you meete together. Than shall we see two men beare a fether. Recompensyng former loytryng lyfe loose, As did the pure penitent that stale a goose, And stak downe a fether. And where olde folke tell. That euill gotten good neuer proueth well, Ye will truely get. and true gettyng well kepe, Tyll tyme ye be as riche as a newe shorne shepe.

Howe be it whan thrift and you fell fyrst at a fray, You plaied the man, for ye made thrift ren away. So helpe me god, in my poore opynion, A man might make a plaie of this minyon. And fayn no groūd, but take tales of his own frēds, I suck not this out of myne owne fyngers ends. And sens ye wer wed, although I nought gaue you, Yet praie I for you, god and saint Luke saue you. And here is all. For what shulde I further wade? I was nother of court nor of counsaile made. And it is as I haue lerned in lystnyng, A poore dogge. that is not worth the whistlyng. A daie er I was wedde, I badde you (quoth I) Scarbrough warnyng I had (quoth he) wherby, I kept me thens, to serue the accordyng. And nowe, if this nyghtes lodgyng and bordyng Maie ease the, and ryd me from any more charge, Than welcome. or els get the streyght at large. For of further rewarde, marke how I bost me. In case as ye shall yelde me as ye cost me, So shall ye cost me as ye yelde me lykewyse. Whiche is, a thyng of nought rightly to surmyse. Here withall his wyfe to make vp my mouthe, Not onely her husbands tauntyng tale auouthe, But therto deuiseth to cast in my teeth, Checks and chokyng oysters. And whan she seeth Hir tyme to take vp, to shew my fare at best, Ye se your fare (saied she) set your hert at rest. Fare ye well (quoth I) how euer I fare now. And wel mote ye fare bothe whan I dyne with yow.

Come, go we hens frend (quoth I to my mate) And now will I make a crosse on this gate. For comyng here agayn. Haue we not well wrought? Mē say, as good plai for nought as work for nought Well well (quoth he) we be but where we were. Come what come wold, I thought er we came there. That yf the worst fell. we coulde haue but a naie, There is no harme doone man in all this fray. Neither pot broken, nor yet water spylt. Farewell he (quoth I) I wyll as sone be hylt, As wayte agayne for the moneshyne in the water. But is not this a praty pyked mater? To disdeigne me, who muck of the world hordth not. As he doth, it may ryme but it accordth not. She fometh lyke a bore, the beast shuld seme bolde. For she is as fiers, as a lyon of cotsolde. She fryeth in her owne grease, but as for my parte, If she be angry, beshrew her angry harte. Let passe (quoth he) and let vs be trudgyng. Where some noppy ale is, and softe swete ludgyng. Be it (quoth I) but I wolde very fayne eate. At breakefast and dyner I eete lyttle meate. And two hungry meales make the thyrde a glutton. We went where we had boylde beefe & bake mutton. Wherof I fed me as full as a tunne. And a bed were we er the clocke had nyne runne. Early we rose, in haste to get awaie. And to the hostler this mornyng by daie This felow calde, what how felow, thou knaue, I praie the leat me and my felowe haue

A heare of the dog that bote vs last nyght. And bytten were we both to the brayne aryght, We sawe eche other drunke in the good ale glas, And so dyd eche one eche other, that there was. Saue one, but olde men saie that are skyld, A hard foughten feeld, where no mā scapeth vnkyld. The recknyng reckned, he needs wold pay the shot, And needs he must for me, for I had it not. This doone we shoke hands. and parted in fyne, He into his waie, and I into myne. But this iorney was quite out of my waie. Many kynsfolke and fewe frends, some folke saie. But I fynde many kynsfolke, and frende not one. Folke saie, it hath been saied many yeres sens gone. Proue thy frend er thou haue nede. but in dede, A freende is neuer knowne tyll a man haue nede. Before I had nede, my most present foes Semed my most frends. but thus the worlde goes, Euery man basteth the fat hog we see, But the leane shall burne er he basted be. As seyth this sentence, ofte and long saied before. He that hath plenty of goodes shall haue more. He that hath but a lytle, he shall haue lesse. He y^t hath ryght nought, ryght nought shall possesse. Thus hauīg right nought. & wold somwhat obtayn, With ryght nought (quoth he) I am retornd agayne.

¶The .xii. Chapiter.

VVel (quoth I) comfort your selfe w^t this old text. That telth vs, when bale is hekst, boote is next.

Though euery man maie not syt in the chayre. Yet alway the grace of god is woorth a fayre. Take no thought in no case, god is where he was. But put case in pouertee all your lyfe pas. Yet pouertee and poore degree, taken well, Feedth on this. he that neuer clymbde, neuer fell. And som case at some tyme shewth preefe somwheare, That riches bryngth ofte harme. and euer feare, Where pouertee passeth without grudge of greefe, What, man the begger may syng before the theefe. And who can syng so mery a note, As maie he, that can not chaunge a grote. Ye (quoth he) beggers may syng before theeues, And wepe before true men, lamentyng their greeues. Some saie, and I feele hungre perseth stone wall. Meate nor yet money, to bye meate withall, Haue I not so muche as maie hungar defende Fro my wyfe and me. Well (quoth I) god will sende Tyme to prouide for tyme, right well ye shall se God sende that prouision in tyme, saied he. And thus semyng welny wery of his lyfe, The pore wretche went to his like pore wretchid wife. And after this a monthe, or somwhat lesse, Theyr landlorde came to theyr howse to take a stresse For rent. to haue kept bayard in the stable. But that to wyn any power was vnable. For though it be yll playing with short daggers, Which meaneth, that euery wise man staggers, In earnest or boorde to be busy or bolde With his biggers or betters, yet this is tolde.

Where as nothyng is, the kyng must lose his ryght. And thus, kyng or keyser must haue set them quyght. But warnyng to departe thens they nedyd none. For er the next day the byrds were flowne eche one, To seke seruyce. of which where the man was sped, The wyfe could not spede, but maugre her hed, She must seke els where. for either there, or ny Seruice for any suite she none could espy. All folk thought them not onely to lyther, To lynger both in one house to gyther, But also dwellyng ny vnder theyr wyngs, Vnder theyr noses, they myght conuey thyngs. Suche as were nother to heuy nor to whot, More in a month then they theyr master got In a whole yere. Wherto folke further weying, Receite eche of other in their conueying, Myght be worst of all. For this prouerbe preeues, Where be no receyuers, there be no theeues. Such hap here hapt, that cōmon drede of such gyles, Droue them and kepeth them asonder many myles. Thus though loue decree, departure death to be, Yet pouertee parteth felowshyp we see. And dothe those two trewe louers so disseuer, That meete shall they seldwhan, or haply neuer. And thus by loue, without regarde of lyuyng, These twayn haue wrought eche others yll cheuyng. And loue hath so lost them the loue of theyr freends, That I thinke theim lost, and thus this tale eends.

The .xiii. chapiter.

AH sir (said my frēd) whan men will needs mary, I see nowe, howe wisedom and haste may vary. Namely where they wed for loue all togyther, I wold for no good, but I had come hyther. Swete beautee with soure beggery, naye I am gon, To the welthy wythred wydow, by seynt Iohn. What yet in all haste (quoth I) ye (quoth he) For she hath substaunce ynough. and ye se, That lack is the losse of these two yong fooles. Know ye not (quoth I) that after wyse mēs schooles, A man shold here all parts, er he iudge any, Why axe ye that (quoth he) for this (quoth I.) I tolde you, when I this began, that I wolde, Tell you of two couples. and I hauyng tolde But of the tone, ye be streyght startyng awey, As I of the tother had ryght nought to sey. Or as your selfe of them ryght nought wold here, Nay not all so (quoth he) but syns I thynk clere, There can no way appere so paynfull a lyfe, Betwene your yong neybour & his olde ryche wyfe, As this tale in this yong poore couple doth showe, And that the moste good or leste yll ye knowe. To take at end, I was at begynnyng bent, With thanks for this, & your more payne to preuent, Without any more matter now reuolued, I take this matter here clerely resolued. And that ye herein awarde me to forsake, Beggerly beautee, & riuyld ryches take.

Thats iust. if the half shall iudge the whole (quoth I) But yet here the whole, the whole wholly to try. To it (quoth he) than I praie you by and by. We will dine fyrst (quoth I) for it is noone hy. We maie as wel (quoth he) dine whan this is doone. The longer forenoone the shorter after noone. All comth to one, and therby men haue gest, Alwaie the longer east the shorter west. We haue had (quoth I) before ye cam, and syn, Weather, meete to sette paddocks abroode in. Rayn, more thā enough. & whā al shrews haue dynd, Chaunge from foule wether to faire is oft inclind. And all the shrews in this parte, sauyng one wife, That must dine with vs, haue dind peyn of my life. Now if good chaunge of yll wether be dependyng, Vpon her diet, what wer myne offendyng, To kepe the woman any longer fastyng. If ye (quoth he) set all this farre castyng. For common wealth▪ as it appereth a clere case, Reason wold your will shuld, and shall take place.

¶Thus endeth the fyrst parte.