442 THE WIFE LAPPED
Wilte thou be mayster, deare wife ? in fay, Then must we wrestle for the best game ; If thou it win, then may I say, That I haue done my selfe greate shame. But fyrst I will make thee sweate, good Jone, Redde blood euen to the heels adowne. And lappe thee in Morels skin alone, That the blood shall be scene euen from the crowne.
Sayest thou me that, thou wretched knaue ?
It were better thou haddest me neuer seene;
I sweare to thee, so God me saue,
With my nayles I will scratch out both thine
eyen,
And therefore thinke not to touch me once, For, by the masse, if thou begin that, Thou shake be handled for the nonce, That all thy braynes on the ground shall squat.
Why then there is no remedy, I see,
But needes I must doe euen as I thought,
Seing it will none other wise be,
I will thee not spare, by God that me bought;
For now I am set thee for to charme,
And make thee meeke, by Gods might,
Or else with roddes, while thou arte warme,
I shall thee scourge with reason and right.
N0W) good Morels skin, Receiue my curst wife in.
How the curst wife in Morels skin lay^ Because* she would not her husband obay.
Now will I my sweete wife trim, According as she deserueth to me: I sweare by God, and by saynt Sim, With byrchen roddes well beate shall she be;