THE TALE（第6页）

andforhisfriendsuponadayhesent

totellthemtheeffectofhisintent.

withfacesad，*histalehehaththemtold:*grave，earnest

hesaide，"friendes，iamhoarandold，

andalst（godwot）onmypittes*brink，*graves

uponmysoulesomewhatmustithink.

ihavemybodyfoolishlydispended，

blessedbegodthatitshallbeamended;

foriwillbecertainaweddedman，

andthatanoninallthehasteican，

untosomemaiden，fairandtenderofage;

iprayyoushape*formymarriage*arrange，contrive

allsuddenly，foriwillnotabide:

andiwillfond*toespy，onmyside，*try

towhomimaybeweddedhastily.

butforasmuchasyeberethan，

yeshallerather*suchathingespy

thani，andwheremebestweretoally.

butohingwarniyou，myfriendesdear，

iwillnoneoldwifehaveinnomannere:

sheshallnotpassesixteenyearcertain.

oldfishandyoungefleshwouldihavefai

better，"quothhe，"apikethanapickerel，**youngpike

andbetterthanoldbeefistenderveal.

iwillnowomanthirtyyearofage，

itisbutbeanestrawandgreatforage.

andeketheseoldewidows（goditwot）

theyconne*somuchcraftonwadesboat，

*know

*somuchebrookeharmwhenthatthemlest，**theycandosomuch

thatwiththemshouldineverliveinrest.harmwhentheywish*