A Merry Dialogue Declaringe the Properties of Shrowde Shrews and Honest WivesErasmus, Desiderius
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A Merry Dialogue Declaringe the Properties of Shrowde Shrews and Honest Wives
Erasmus, Desiderius
Dialogues, Latin (Medieval and modern) -- Translations into English; Imaginary conversations
Eulalia. There sayde ye well, setting lytell stoore by hys
olde wife, hunted a callette, with whom he kept much companie
abrode, he dined or supped litell at home. What wouldest thou haue
sayd to ye gere.
Xantip. What woulde I a said? I wolde haue flowē to the
hores toppe and I wolde haue crowned myne husbande at hys oute
goinge to her with a pysbowle,that he so ēbawlmed might haue
gon vnto his souerayne ladie.
Eula. But how much wiselier dyd this woman? She desyred that
yonge woman home vnto her, and made her good chere, so by that
meanes she brought home also her husband without ani witchraft or
sorserie, and yf that at anye season he supped abrode with her she
would sende vnto them some good dayntie morsel, and byd him make
good chere
Xantippa. I had leuer be slayne then I woulde be bawde vnto
myne owne husbande.
[Illustration]
Eulalia. Yea, but consyder all thynges well, was not that
muche better, then she shoulde be her shrewyshnesse, haue putte her
husbandes minde cleane of from her, and so haue ledde all her life
in trouble and heuynesse.
Xantippa. I graunte you well, that it was better so but I
coulde not abyde it.
Eulalya. I wyll tell you a prety story more, and so make an
ende One of oure neyghboures, a well disposed and a goddes man, but
that he is some what testie, on a day pomeld his wife well and
thriftely aboute the pate and so good a woman as euer was borne, she
picked her into an inner parler, and there weepynge and sobbynge,
eased her heuye harte, anone after, by chaunce her husbande came
into the same place, and founde hys wyfe wepyng. What sitest thou
heare sayth he seighing & sobbîg like a child Thē she
like a wise woman sayde. Is it not more honesty for me to lamente my
dolours here in a secret place, thē to make wondering and on
oute crye in the strete,
[Illustration]
as other womē do. At so wyfely and womanly a saing his hart
melted, promysynge her faythfullye and truelie that he woulde neuer
laye stroke on her afterwarde, nor neuer did.
Xantippa. No more wil mine god thanke my selfe.
Eulalya. But then ye are alwaies one at a nother, agreinge
lyke dogges and cattes.
Xan. What wouldest thou that I should do?
Eu. Fyrst & formest, whatsoeuer thy husbande doeth sayde
thou nothinge, for his harte must be wonne by lytell and litel by
fayre meanes, gentilnesse and forbearing at the last thou shalte
eyther wynne him or at the least waie thou shalt leade a better life
thē thou doest now.
Xantippa. He his beyonde goddes forbode, he wil neuer amende.
Eulalia. Eye saye not so, there is no beest so wild but by
fayre handling be tamed, neuer mistrust man thē. Assay a moneth
or two, blame me and thou findest not that my counsell dooeth ease.
There be some fautes wyth you thoughe
[Illustration]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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