THE TALE（第7页）

thatwiththemshouldineverliveinrest.harmwhentheywish*

forsundryschoolesmakesubtleclerkes;

womanofmanyschooleshalfaclerkis.

butcertainlyayoungthingmenmayguy，**guide

rightasmenmaywarmwaxwithhandesply.**bend，uld

whereforeisayyouplainlyinaclause，

iwillnoneoldwifehave，rightforthiscause.

forifsowereihaddesuchmischance，

thatiinhercouldhavenopleasance，

thenshouldileadmylifeinavoutrie，**adultery

andgostraighttothedevilwhenidie.

norchildrenshouldinoneuponhergetten:

yet*weremelever*houndeshadmeeaten*iwouldrather*

thanthatmineheritageshouldefall

instrangehands:andthisitellyouall.

idoubtenotiknowthecausewhy

menshouldewed:andfartherreknowi

therespeakethmanyamanofmarriage

thatknowsnoreofitthandothmypage，

forwhatcausesamanshouldtakeawife.

ifhenemaynotlivechastehislife，

takehimawifewithgreatdevotion，

becauseoflawfulprocreation

ofchildren，tothhonourofgodabove，

andnotonlyforparaurorlove;

andfortheyshouldelecheryeschew，

andyieldtheirdebtewhenthatitisdue:

orforthateachofthemshouldhelptheother

inmischief，*asasistershallthebrother，*trouble

andliveinchastityfullholily.

but，sires，byyourleave，thatamnoti，