THE TALE（第2页）

hecoulde，whenheshouldetellatale.

therewithinallthisworldnonighale

necouldebyan混♂dredthousanddeal**part

singesowondrousmerrilyandwell.

nowhadthisphoebusinhishouseawife;

whichthathelovedrethanhislife.

andnightanddaydideverhisdiligence

herfortoplease，anddoherreverence:

saveonly，ifthatithesoothshallsayn，

jealoushewas，andwouldhavekeptherfain.

forhimwerelothy-japed*fortobe;*tricked，deceived

andsoiseverywightinsuchdegree;

butallfornought，foritavailethnought.

agoodwife，thatiscleanofworkandthought，

shouldnotbekeptinnoneawait*certain:*observation

andtruelythelabourisinvain

tokeepashrewe，*foritwillnotbe.*ill-disposedwoman

thisholdiforaverynicety，**sheerfolly

tospille*labourfortokeepewives;*lose

thuswritenoldeclerkesintheirlives.

butnowtopurpose，asifirstbegan

thisworthyphoebusdidallthathecan

topleaseher，weening，throughsuchpleasance，

andforhismanhoodandhisgovernance，

thatnomanshouldhaveputhimfromhergrace;

but，goditwot，theremaynomanembrace

astodistrain*athing，whichthatnature*eedinconstraining

hathnaturallysetinacreature.

takeanybird，andputitinacage，

anddoallthineintent，andthycorage，**whatthyheartprompts

tofosterittenderlywithmeatanddrink