Page:Disciplina Clericalis (English translation) from the fifteenth century Worcester Cathedral Manuscript F. 172.djvu/39

   as in kepyng of his wif, but nothyng it profited hym." The disciple saide: "Goode Maister, tel me what he dide that I may knowe if I wed that womman how I may kepe hir." [The maister]:

"Svche a yong man ther was whiche al his entent and al his wit and yit moreover al his body set and put to knowe al the maner and craft of wymmen, and this don nold no wif wedde. But first [he] went to seeke counsail and cam to a man most sapient of that Regioun and asked and sought how he myght kepe his wif if he wold any wedde. The sapient man forsoth heryng this yave hym counsail that he shuld make an house with high wallis of stone and put his wif withyn and yeve hir mete inowgh to ete and no superfluite of clothyng; so that in that house be but oo dore and oo wyndowe bi whiche she may see, and of suche height and of suche composicioun and makyng bi whiche noman may entre ne go out. The yongman forsoth herying this counsail of the sapient man dide as he bad hym. Forsoth erly in the morow whan the yongman went out, [he] shit the doore of the house fast, and in like wise whan he entred; and whan he slept hid the keyes vnder his hede and thus dide long tyme. Suche (f. 125) a day while this yongman went out his wif as she was wont ascended vp to the wyndow arid while she stoode ther she sawe another faire yongman of body and of face, with whiche sight anon she was kyndeled in the love of hym. Forsoth the womman so kyndeled in the love of that yongman and as it is above saide in suche warde and straite kepyng bigan to thynk how and bi what art or craft she myght speke with that yongman. And she ful of engyne and guyle craftily bithought hir to stele the keyes of hir lord hir husbond while that he slept, and so she dide. Forsoth hir lord hir husbond was in custom every nyght to be drunk of wyne; now the more suerly myght she go out to hir love and fulfil hir volunte and lust. The lord forsoth, of that Philosophres techyng and warnyng withouten guyle of any act of womman, bigan to thynke what his wif often and daily wold with drynkyng make hym drunke. Suche