man made all of iron, and have never desire to sleepe, and am more
quicke of sight than Lynx or Argus. I had scarse spoken these words,
when he tooke me by the hand and brought mee to a certaine house, the
gate whereof was closed fast, so that I went through the wicket, then
he brought me into a chamber somewhat darke, and shewed me a Matron
cloathed in mourning vesture, and weeping in lamentable wise. And he
spake unto her and said, Behold here is one that will enterprise to
watch the corpes of your husband this night. Which when she heard she
turned her blubbered face covered with haire unto me saying, I pray you
good man take good heed, and see well to your office. Have no care
(quoth I) so you will give mee any thing above that which is due to be
given. Wherewith shee was contented, and then she arose and brought me
into a chamber whereas the corps lay covered with white sheets, and
shee called seven witnesses, before whom she shewed the dead body, and
every part and parcell thereof, and with weeping eyes desired them all
to testifie the matter. Which done, she sayd these words of course as
follow: Behold, his nose is whole, his eyes safe, his eares without
scarre, his lips untouched, and his chin sound: all which was written
and noted in tables, and subscribed with the hands of witnesses to
confirme the same. Which done I sayd unto the matron, Madam I pray you
that I may have all things here necessary. What is that? (quoth she).
Marry (quoth I) a great lampe with oyle, pots of wine, and water to
delay the same, and some other drinke and dainty dish that was left at
supper. Then she shaked her head and sayd, Away fool as thou art,
thinkest thou to play the glutton here and to looke for dainty meats
where so long time hath not been seene any smoke at all? Commest thou
hither to eat, where we should weepe and lament? And therewithall she
turned backe, and commanded her maiden Myrrhena to deliver me a lampe
with oyle, which when shee had done they closed the chamber doore and
departed. Now when I was alone, I rubbed myne eyes, and armed my selfe
to keep the corpes, and to the intent I would not sleepe, I began to
sing, and so I passed the time until it was midnight, when as behold
there crept in a Wesel into the chamber, and she came against me and
put me in very great feare, insomuch that I marvelled greatly at the
audacity of so little a beast. To whom I said, get thou hence thou
whore and hie thee to thy fellowes, lest thou feele my fingers. Why
wilt thou not goe? Then incontinently she ranne away, and when she was
gon, I fell on the ground so fast asleepe, that Apollo himself could
not discern which of us two was the dead corps, for I lay prostrat as
one without life, and needed a keeper likewise. At length the cockes
began to crow, declaring that it was day: wherewithall I awaked, and
being greatly afeard ran to the dead body with the lamp in my hand, and
I viewed him round about: and immediately came in the matron weeping
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