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
what purpose she sente all that housholde stuffe thyther. Man (said she)
ye haue bē tenderly brought vp. I perceiued that ye were but corslie
handled there, me thought that it was my part, seing it was your wyll and
pleasure to be there ye shoulde be better loked to.
Xantippa. She was one of goddes fooles. I woulde rather for a bed
haue layd vnder him a bundel of nettels: or a burden of thistels.
Eula. But here the end her husbande perceyuyng the honeste of her
great pacience neuer after laye from her, but made good cheare at home
with his owne. I am sure ye knowe Gilberte the holāder.
Xan. Very well.
Eu. He (as it is not vnknowē maried an old wife in his florishîg
youth.
Xā. Per aduēture he maried the good and notthe woman.
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.
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, 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?
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