麒麟小说

THE TALE（第11页）

butibedead，soprickethitmyside。

mayinotaskalibel，sirsompnour，

andanswertherebymyprocuratour

tosuchthingasmenwouldappose*me?"*ause

"yes，"quoththissompnour，"payanon，letsee，

twelvepencetome，andiwilltheeacquit。

ishallnoprofithavetherebybutlit:**littl

mymasterhaththeprofitandnoti

eoff，andletmeridehastily;

givemetwelvepence，imaynolongertarry。"

"twelvepence!"quothshe;"nowladysaintemary

sowisly*helpmeoutofcareandsin，*surely

thiswideworldthoughthatishoulditwin，

nohaveinottwelvepencewithinmyhold。

yeknowfullwellthatiampoorandold;

*kitheyouralmes*uponmepoorwretch。"*showyourcharity*

"naythen，"quothhe，"thefoulefiendmefetch

ifiexcusethee，thoughthoushouldstbespilt。"**ruined

"alas!"quothshe，"godwot，ihavenoguilt。"

"payme，"quothhe，"or，bythesweetsaintanne，

asiwillbearawaythynewepan

fordebte，whichthouowestmeofold，—

whenthatthoumadestthinehusbandcuckold，—

ipaidathomeforthycorrection。"

"thouliest，"quothshe，"bymysalvation;

neverwasierenow，widoworwife，

sumnduntoyourcourtinallmylife;

norneveriwasbutofmybodytrue。

untothedevilroughandblackofhue

giveithybodyandmypanalso。"

andwhenthedevilheardhercurseso