So she sends for And of ther purpos & ther intente THE LORD'S WIFE
the dame to fetch That they would haue wrought. SEES HIM IN 570
her lord home, Glad was þat lady of that tydyng; THE CELLAR.
and tells her what When sche wyst her lord was lyuyng,
he and his Ther-of sche was fulÌ´lÌ´ fayne: 573
companions came Whan sche came vn-to þe steyre aboue{n)},
there for. Sche lokyd vn-to þe seller downe,
The lady And seyd,--þis ys nott to leyne,-- 576
looks down into "Good syres, what doo you here?"
the cellar, "Dame, we by owre mete fulÌ´lÌ´ dere,
and says, "Good Wyth gret trauayle and peyne; 579
sirs, what are you I pray you helpe þat we were owte,
doing?" And I wylÌ´lÌ´ swere w_y_t_h_-owtyn dowte
"Earning our meat Neu_er_ to come here agayne." 582
full dear: The lady spake the wyfe vn-tyll_e_,
[leaf 186] And seyd "dame, yf yt be youre wylle,
help us out, and What doo thes meyny here?" 585
I'll never come The carpentarys wyfe her answerd sykerly,
here again." "AlÌ´lÌ´ they would haue leyne me by;
The lady asks the Eu_er_ych, in ther maner_e_, 588
wife why Gold and syluer they me brought,
the men are there And forsoke yt, and would yt noght,
The wife says they The ryche gyftes so clere. 591
wanted to lie with Wyllyng þey were to do me schame,
her, and offered I toke ther gyftes wyth-owtyn blame,
her gold and _And_ ther they be alÌ´lÌ´ thre." 594
silver; The lady answerd her ano{n)},
she took their "I haue thynges to do att home
gifts, and there Mo than two or thre; 597
they are. I wyst my lord neu_er_ do ryght noght