Page:Mother Bunch's closet newly broke open (2).pdf/11

newly Broke Open 13 no less than five or six at this time; and, Mother, I would fain know which of them comes for love of me, and which of them for money.--Daughter, quoth Mother Bunch, here is an experiment, if you will but try, it will make a clear discovery of the reality of their love. - Let a report be spread, that thou hast lately been robbed of all that thou hast, both money and apparel: Now, if after this, there is one of them that continues his love as before, you nay be very certain that he is faithful; but, be sure that you keep this counsel to yourself, that the secret be nor dis- covered. I will take care of that, dear Mother, quoth Margery, and I heartily thank you for this kind and seasonable advice.

She was no sooner gone, but in comes Mrs Susan, a young sempstress from Salisbury, with sorrowful lamentation, weeping, and wringing her hands. How now! quoth good Mother Bunch, what is the mat- ter with you, Daughter, that you go on at this rate? Alas! Mother Bunch, quoth Susan, my--my--my--my--my--my--! What my? said Mother Bunch. Quoth sobbing Susan, my sorrows are more than I am able to bear; for, Mother, der Frank the fidler, my old love, and I, are fallen out, and he swears he will not have me: Come, Daughter, quoth Mother Bunch, be of good comfort, for I will put thee in an effectual way to find, whither Frank the fidler be really angry with thee or not; and if he be, I will teach thee infallibly how to obtain his favour again. “She that is afraid of every grass, must not think to piss in a meadow." Let your an- gry love but alone for a season, and he will soon come to himself again; for I know that love is a puny darling, and wants very frequently to be humoured. Therefore let him alone, in time he will forget his