And over souls as controller, Thorough out the earth my power doth stand, Where many a soul lieth on my hand, That speed in matters as I use them, As I receive them or refuse them. Whereby what time thy pleasure is, I[527] shall requite any part of this, The least devil here that can come thither, Shall choose a soul and bring him hither. Ho,[528] ho! quoth the devil, we are well pleased; What is his name thou wouldst have eased? Nay, quoth I, be it good or evil, My coming is for a she devil. What callst her, quoth he, thou whoreson?[529] Forsooth, quoth I, Margery Corson. Now, by our honour, said Lucifer, No devil in hell shall withhold her; And if thou wouldest have twenty mo, Wert not for justice, they should go. For all we[530] devils within this den Have more to do with two women, Than with all the charge we have beside; Wherefore, if thou our friend will be tried, Apply thy pardons to women so, That unto us there come no mo. To do my best I promised by oath; Which I have kept, for, as the faith goeth, At this day[531] to heaven I do procure Ten women to one man, be sure. Then of Lucifer my leave I took, And straight unto the master-cook I was had into the kitchen, For Margery's office was therein. All things handled there discreetly, For every soul beareth office meetly: Which might be seen to see her sit So busily turning of the spit. For many a spit here hath she turned, And many a good spit hath she burned: And many a spitful hot hath roasted, Before the meat could be half roasted, And ere the meat were half-roasted indeed, I took her then fro the spit with speed. But when she saw this brought to pass, To tell the joy wherein she was! And of all the devils, for joy how they Did roar at her delivery! And how the chains in hell did ring. And how all the souls therein did sing; And how we were brought to the gate, And how we took our leave thereat, Be sure lack of time suffereth not To rehearse the twentieth part of that, Wherefore, this tale to conclude briefly, This woman thanked me chiefly, That she was rid of this endless death, And so we departed on Newmarket-heath. And if that any man do mind her, Who lists to seek her, there shall he find her. PEDLAR. Sir, ye have sought her wonders[532] well, And where ye found her as ye tell, To hear the chance ye had[533] in hell, I find ye were in great peril.[534]