he would let it out. Hauing lyen a while, he fell asleepe, leauing old Ione bleeding at nose, where shee stood till three of the clocke in the morning, at which time this honest lasse (the sumpter-man's wife) came home: when she had quietly opened the doore, she went to the old woman, asking her how shee had sped. Marry, quoth shee, as I would wish my enemies to speed-ill! I pray vnbinde me, or I shall bleed to death. The good wife was sorry to heare that she had receiued such hurt, but fane gladde that it did not happen vnto her selfe; so, vnbinding her, she stood in her place. Homeward went the old woman, bethinking her selfe all the way how she might excuse that hurt to her husband. At last she had one (for excuses are neuer further off women then their apron strings), which was this she went home to her husband, who was a mason, and went euery morning betimes to worke out of the towne; him she calleth, telling him it was time to goe to worke. The silly man rose, and, being ready to goe, he missed a chisell (which his wife had hid), and went vp and downe groping for it in the darke, praying his wife to helpe him to looke it. She made as she had sought for it, but, instead of that, she gaue him a sharpe knife (which a butcher had brought to grinding); he, catching at this suddenly (as one being in haste), cut all his fingers, so that with anger he threw the knife to the earth, cursing his wife that gaue it him. Presently, vpon ye fall of the knife, she cryed out that shee was hurt. The mason, being amazed, went and lighted a candle, and, returning, he found his wife's nose cut. The silly man (perswading himselfe that hee had done it with hurling the knife) intreated her to forgiue him, for he protested that hee thought her no hurt when hee did it; then fetched he a surgeon, who cunningly stitched it vp, that it was little whole in a short time. The sumpter-man all this while did thinke how he was beguiled, who, when he was awaked, lighted a candle to see what hurt he had done his wife in his rage. He comming neere her, and seeing her face whole, stood in a maze, not knowing what to thinke on it, for he was sure that he had cut her nose. His wife, seeing him stand in this maner, asked him what he did ayle, and why he gazed so on her, as though he knew her not. Pardon mee, wife, quoth he, for this night hath a miracle beene wrought; I doe see plainely that the heauens will not suffer the innocent to suffer harme. Then fetched hee his knife, which was all bloudy, saying, Deare wife, with this knife did I giue thee, this present night, a wound on the face, the which, most miraculously, is whole, which is a signe thou art free and spotlesse, and so will I euer hold thee. His wife said little (for feare of laughing), onely she said she knew heauen would defend the innocent; so they went to bed louingly together, he vowing neuer to thinke amisse on her. So had she more libertie then before, and the old woman had gold for her wound, which wound was so well cured (I thanke God!) that you can scarce see it on my nose. Hereat they all laughed, saying she had told a good tale for her selfe; at which she bit her lip, to thinke how she was so very a foole to betray her selfe. But, knowing that excuses would but make her more suspected, she held her tongue, giuing the next leaue to speake. THE END. LONDON: F. SHOBERL, JUN., 51, RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKET, PRINTER TO H.R.H. PRINCE ALBERT. |