 | Here begynneth a merry Ieste of a shrewde and curste Wyfe |  |
Howe the good man did byd her Father and Mother to guest, and many of his neyghbours that they might see his wiues pacyence.
Great
payne he made his wife to take,
Agaynst the day that they should come:
Of them was none that there did lack,
I dare wel say vnto my doome.
Ye Father and mother and neighbours all.
Dyd thether come to make good cheare,
Soone they were set in generall,
The wyfe was dilligent as did appeare.
Agaynst the day that they should come:
Of them was none that there did lack,
I dare wel say vnto my doome.
Ye Father and mother and neighbours all.
Dyd thether come to make good cheare,
Soone they were set in generall,
The wyfe was dilligent as did appeare.
Father and mother was welcome then,
And so were they all in good fay:
The husband sate there like a man,
The wyfe did serue them all that day.
The good man commaunded what he would haue,
The wyfe was quick at hand,
What now thought the mother, this arrant knaue,
Is mayster as I vnderstand.
And so were they all in good fay:
The husband sate there like a man,
The wyfe did serue them all that day.
The good man commaunded what he would haue,
The wyfe was quick at hand,
What now thought the mother, this arrant knaue,
Is mayster as I vnderstand.
What may this meane then she gan thinke,
That my daughter so dilligent is:
Now can I nother eate nor drinke,
Till I it know by heauen blisse.
When her daughter came agayne,
To serue at the borde as her husband bad,
The Mother stared with her eyen twayne,
Euen as one that had ben mad.
That my daughter so dilligent is:
Now can I nother eate nor drinke,
Till I it know by heauen blisse.
When her daughter came agayne,
To serue at the borde as her husband bad,
The Mother stared with her eyen twayne,
Euen as one that had ben mad.
All the folke, that at the boord sate,
Did her behold then euerichone:
The mother from the boord her gate,
Following her daughter and that anone,
And in the Kitching she her fand,
Saying vnto her in this wise:
Daughter thou shalte well vnderstand,
I did not teach thee after this guyse.
Did her behold then euerichone:
The mother from the boord her gate,
Following her daughter and that anone,
And in the Kitching she her fand,
Saying vnto her in this wise:
Daughter thou shalte well vnderstand,
I did not teach thee after this guyse.
A good mother ye say full well,
All thinges with meis not as ye weene:
If ye had bene in Morels fell,
As well as I it should be seene.
In Morels fell what deuill is that,
Mary mother I will it you show:
But beware that you come not thereat,
Lest you your selfe then doe beshrew.
All thinges with meis not as ye weene:
If ye had bene in Morels fell,
As well as I it should be seene.
Mary mother I will it you show:
But beware that you come not thereat,
Lest you your selfe then doe beshrew.
Come downe now in this seller so deepe,
And Morels skin there shall you see:
With many a rod that hath made me to weepe,
When the blood ranne downe fast by my knee.
The Mother this beheld and cryed out alas.
And ran out of the Seller as she had bene wood,
She came to the table where the company was,
And sayd out horeson I will see thy harte blood.
And Morels skin there shall you see:
With many a rod that hath made me to weepe,
When the blood ranne downe fast by my knee.
The Mother this beheld and cryed out alas.
And ran out of the Seller as she had bene wood,
She came to the table where the company was,
And sayd out horeson I will see thy harte blood.
Peace good Mother, or so haue I blisse,
Ye must daunce else as did my wyfe:
And in Morels skin lye, that well salted is,
Which you should repent all the dayes of your lyfe.
All they they that were there, held with the yong man,
And sayd he dyd well in euery maner degree,
Whan dynner was done, they departed all than,
The mother no lenger durst there be.
Ye must daunce else as did my wyfe:
And in Morels skin lye, that well salted is,
Which you should repent all the dayes of your lyfe.
All they they that were there, held with the yong man,
And sayd he dyd well in euery maner degree,
Whan dynner was done, they departed all than,
The mother no lenger durst there be.
The Father abode last and was full glad,
And gaue his children his blessyng ywys,
Saying the yong man full well done had,
And merely departed wythouten mys,
This yong man was glad ye may be sure,
That he had brought hys wyfe to this,
God gyue vs all grace in rest to indure,
And hereafter to come vnto his blisse.
And gaue his children his blessyng ywys,
Saying the yong man full well done had,
And merely departed wythouten mys,
This yong man was glad ye may be sure,
That he had brought hys wyfe to this,
God gyue vs all grace in rest to indure,
And hereafter to come vnto his blisse.
Thus was Morell flayne out of his skin.
To charme a shrew so haue I blisse:
Forgeue the yongman if he did sin,
But I thinke he did nothing amisse.
He did all thing euen for the best.
As it well prooued then,
God saue our wiues from Morels nest,
I pray you say all amen.
Thus endeth the iest of Morels skin,
To charme a shrew so haue I blisse:
Forgeue the yongman if he did sin,
But I thinke he did nothing amisse.
He did all thing euen for the best.
As it well prooued then,
God saue our wiues from Morels nest,
I pray you say all amen.
Where the curst wife was lapped in,
Because she was of a shrewde leere.
Thus was she serued in this maner.
“He that can charme a shrewde wife,
Better then thus:
Let him come to me, and fetch ten pound,
And a golden purse.”
quoth Mayster Charme hee.
Finis.
| Here begynneth a merry Ieste of a shrewde and curste Wyfe | |