ble books,
whereupon they tooke a bason of cleere water, and presented it before
me: but I as soone as I perceived the wholesome water of my life, ran
incontinently, thrusting my head into the bason, drank as though I had
beene greatly athirst; then they stroked me with their hands, and bowed
mine eares, and tooke me by the halter, to prove my patience, but I
taking each thing in good part, disproved their mad presumption, by my
meeke and gentle behaviour: when I was thus delivered from this double
danger, the next day I was laded againe with the goddesse Siria, and
other trumpery, and was brought into the way with Trumpets and Cymbals
to beg in the villages which we passed by according to our custome. And
after that we had gone through a few towns and Castles, we fortuned to
come to a certaine village, which was builded (as the inhabitants there
affirme) upon the foundation of a famous ancient Citie. And after that
we had turned into the next Inne, we heard of a prettie jest committed
in the towne there, which I would that you should know likewise.

THE THIRTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER

Of the deceipt of a Woman which made her husband Cuckold.

There was a man dwelling in the towne very poore, that had nothing but
that which he got by the labour and travell of his hands: his wife was
a faire young woman, but very lascivious, and given to the appetite and
desire of the flesh. It fortuned on a day, that while this poore man was
gone betimes in the morning to the field about his businesse, according
as he accustomed to doe, his wives lover secretly came into his house to
have his pleasure with her. And so it chanced that during the time
that shee and he were basking together, her husband suspecting no such
matter, returned home praising the chast continency of his wife, in
that hee found his doores fast closed, wherefore as his custome was, he
whistled to declare his comming. Then his crafty wife ready with shifts,
caught her lover and covered him under a great tub standing in a corner,
and therewithall she opened the doore, blaming her husband in this sort:
Commest thou home every day with empty hands, and bringest nothing
to maintaine our house? thou hast no regard for our profit, neither
providest for any meate or drinke, whereas I poore wretch doe nothing
day and night but occupie my selfe with spinning, and yet my travell
will scarce find the Candels which we spend. O how much more happy is my
neighbour Daphne, that e