THE TALE（第4页）

now，sir，andeft*sir，sobefellthecase，*again

thatonadaythishendynicholas

fellwiththisyoungewifetorage*andplay，*toy，playtherogue

whilethatherhusbandwasatoseney，

asclerkesbefullsubtleandfullquaint.

andprivilyhecaughtherbythequeint，**cunt

andsaid;"y-wis，*butifihavemywill，*assuredly

for*derneloveofthee，leman，ispill."**forearnestloveofthee

andheldeherfastbythehaunchebones，mymistress，iperish*

andsaide"leman，lovemewellatonce，

oriwilldien，allsogodmesave."

andshesprangasacoltdothinthetrave

:

andwithherheadshewrithedfastaway，

andsaid;"iwillnotkissthee，bymyfay*.*faith

whyletbe，"quothshe，"letbe，nicholas，

oriwillcryoutharowandalas!

doawayyourhandes，foryourcourtesy."

thisnicholasganmercyfortocry，

andspakesofair，andprofferdhimsofast，

thatsheherlovehimgrantedatthelast，

andsworeheroathbysaintthomasofkent，

thatshewouldbeathismandement，

whenthatshemayherleisurewellespy.

"myhusbandissofullofjealousy，

thatbut*yewaitewell，andbeprivy，*unless

iwotrightwelliambutdead，"quothshe.

"yemustebefullderne*asinthiscase."*secret

"nay，thereofcaretheenought，"quothnicholas:

"aclerkhad*litherlybesethiswhile*，*illspenthistime*

*butif*hecouldacarpenterbeguile."*unless