HUSBAND. The flying fiend[365] go with my wife, And in her journey ill may she speed! I pray God Almighty to shorten her life! The earth at no time doth bear such a weed! Although that I be a gentleman born, And come by my ancètors of a good blood, Yet am I like to wear a coat torn, And hither and thither go carry wood! But rather than I this life will abide, To-morrow morning I do intend Home to my father again to ride, If some man to me his horse will lend. She is to her gossips gone to make merry, And there she will be for three or four days: She cares not, though I do now miscarry, And suffer such pain and sorrow always. She leaveth to me neither bread nor drink, But such, as I judge, no body would eat: I might by the walls lie dead and stink, For any great wholesomeness in my meat. She walketh abroad, and taketh her pleasure: Herself to cherish is all her care: She passeth not what grief I endure, Or how I can live with noughty[366] fare: And since it is so, without further delay To my father to-morrow I will away. [_Here he goeth out, and in cometh the Devil_.[367] SATAN THE DEVIL. Ho, ho, ho, what a fellow am I! Give room, I say, both more and less: My strength and power, hence to the sky, No earthly tongue can well express! O, what inventions, crafts and wiles Is there contained within this head! I know that he is within few miles, Which of the same is throughly sped. O, it was all my study day and night Cunningly to bring this matter to pass: In all the earth there is no wight, But I can make to cry alas. This man and wife, that not long ago Fell in this place together by the ears: It was only I that this strife did sow, And have been about it certain years. For after that I had taken a smell Of their good will and fervent love, Me-thought I should not tarry in hell, But unto debate them shortly move: O, it was I that made him to despise All wisdom, goodness, virtue, and learning, That he afterward could in no wise Once in his heart fancy teaching: O, it was I that made him refuse The wholesome monition of his father dear, And caused him still of a wife to muse, As though she should be his joy and cheer! O, it was I that made him go hence, And suppose that his father was very unkind; It was I that did drive him to such expense, And made him as bare as an ape is behind. And now that I have this business ended, And joined him and his wife together, I think that I have my part well played: None of you all would do it better. Ho, ho, ho! this well-favoured head of mine, What thing soever it hath in hand, Is never troubled with ale or wine, Neither by sea, nor yet by land. I tell you I am a marvellous body, As any is at this day living: My head doth devise each thing so trimly, That all men may wonder of the ending. O, I have such fetches,[368] such toys in this head, Such crafty devices and subtle train, That whomsoever of you I do wed, Ye are like at my hands to take small gain. There is no gentleman, knight, or lord: