|
Swiche manere wordes hadde we on honde. |
| Now wol I speken of my fourthe housbonde. |
| My fourthe housbonde was a revelour - |
| 460 | This is to seyn, he hadde a paramour - |
| And I was yong and ful of ragerye, |
| Stibourn and strong, and joly as a pye. |
| Wel koude I daunce to an harpe smale, |
| And synge, ywis, as any nyghtyngale, |
| 465 | Whan I had dronke a draughte of sweete wyn. |
| Metellius, the foule cherl, the swyn, |
| That with a staf birafte his wyf hire lyf, |
| For she drank wyn, thogh I hadde been his wyf, |
| He sholde nat han daunted me fro drynke. |
| 470 | And after wyn on Venus moste I thynke, |
| For al so siker as cold engendreth hayl, |
| A likerous mouth moste han a likerous tayl. |
| In wommen vinolent is no defence, |
| This knowen lecchours by experience. |
|
| Such were the words I had at my command. |
| Now will I tell you of my fourth husband.
| | "My fourth husband, he was a reveller,
| | 460 | That is to say, he kept a paramour;
| | And young and full of passion then was I,
| | Stubborn and strong and jolly as a pie.
| | Well could I dance to tune of harp, nor fail
| | To sing as well as any nightingale
| | 465 | When I had drunk a good draught of sweet wine.
| | Metellius, the foul churl and the swine,
| | Did with a staff deprive his wife of life
| | Because she drank wine; had I been his wife
| | He never should have frightened me from drink;
| | 470 | For after wine, of Venus must I think:
| | For just as surely as cold produces hail,
| | A liquorish mouth must have a lickerish tail.
| | In drunken women has no means of defence,
| | This know all lechers by experience. |
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