44O ' THE WIFE LAPPED
How the goodman was welcommed when he retourned home agayne.
The good man came ryding to the gate,
And knocked as he had bene wode;
His seruaunt right soone did meete him thereat,
And bid him welcome with right milde moode.
The mayster sayd, what doth my dame now?
Is she as frantick yet as she was ?
Than will I tame her, I make God auow,
And make her sing full loude alas.
Where arte thou, wife ? shall I haue any meate,
Or am I not so welcome vnto thee,
That at my commaundement I shall ought get,
I pray thee hartely soone tell thou me ?
If thou doe not serue me, and that anon,
I shall thee shew mine anger y wis :
I sweare by God, and by saynt John,
Thy bones will I swaddle, so haue I blisse.
Forth she came, as brym a bore,
And like a dog she rated him than,
Saying thus, I set no store
By thee, thou wretch, thou arte no man :
Get thee hence out of my sight,
For meate nor drink thou gettest none heare;
I sweare to thee by Mary bright,
Of me thou gettest here no good clieare.
Well, wyfe, he sayd, thou doste me compell
To doe that thing that I were loath :
If I bereaue Morell of his old fell,
Thou shalte repente it by the fayth now goath :
For I see well that it will no better be,
But in it thou must, after the new guyse.
It had bene better, so mote I thee,
That thou haddest not begon this enterpryse.