THE TALE（第11页）

butibedead，soprickethitmyside.

mayinotaskalibel，sirsompnour，

andanswertherebymyprocuratour

tosuchthingasmenwouldappose*me?"*ause

"yes，"quoththissompnour，"payanon，letsee，

twelvepencetome，andiwilltheeacquit.

ishallnoprofithavetherebybutlit:**littl

mymasterhaththeprofitandnoti

eoff，andletmeridehastily;

givemetwelvepence，imaynolongertarry."

"twelvepence!"quothshe;"nowladysaintemary

sowisly*helpmeoutofcareandsin，*surely

thiswideworldthoughthatishoulditwin，

nohaveinottwelvepencewithinmyhold.

yeknowfullwellthatiampoorandold;

*kitheyouralmes*uponmepoorwretch."*showyourcharity*

"naythen，"quothhe，"thefoulefiendmefetch

ifiexcusethee，thoughthoushouldstbespilt."**ruined

"alas!"quothshe，"godwot，ihavenoguilt."

"payme，"quothhe，"or，bythesweetsaintanne，

asiwillbearawaythynewepan

fordebte，whichthouowestmeofold，—

whenthatthoumadestthinehusbandcuckold，—

ipaidathomeforthycorrection."

"thouliest，"quothshe，"bymysalvation;

neverwasierenow，widoworwife，

sumnduntoyourcourtinallmylife;

norneveriwasbutofmybodytrue.

untothedevilroughandblackofhue

giveithybodyandmypanalso."

andwhenthedevilheardhercurseso