theprologue
whenendedwasmytaleofmelibee,
andofprudenceandherbenignity,
ourhostesaid,"asiamfaithfulman,
andbythepreciouscorpusmadrian,
ihadlever*thanabarrelofale,*rather
thatgoodelefe*mywifehadheardthistale;*dear
forsheisnothingofsuchpatience
aswasthismeliboeuswifeprudence。
bygoddesbones!whenibeatmyknaves
shebringethmethegreatec露bbedstaves,
andcrieth,eseveryone,
andbreakofthembothbackandevrybone。
andifthatanyneighebourofmine
willnotinchurc混♂tomywifeincline,
orbesohardytohertotrespace,**offend
whensheeshomesherampeth*inmyface,*springs
andcrieth,falsecoward,wreak*thywife*avenge
bycorpusdomini,iwillhavethyknife,
andthoushalthavemydistaff,andgospin。
fromdaytillnightrightthusshewillbegin。
alas!shesaith,thateveriwasshape**destined
towedamilksop,oracowardape,
thatwillbeoverlad*witheverywight!*imposedon
thoudarestnotstandbythywifesright。
"thisismylife,*butif*thatiwillfight;*unles
andoutatdooranonimustmedight,**betakemyself
orellesiamlost,butifthati
be,likeawildelion,fool-hardy。