That on his rigge the towche was alwey founde. [60]

Cecely Sourechere, his owen precyous spouse,
Kowde him reheete whan he came to house.
Yif he ought spake whanne he felt peyne,
Ageyne oon worde alweys he hade tweyne.
Sheo qwytt him euer, ther was no thing to seeche,
Six for oon, of worde and strookes eeche.
Ther was no meen bytweene hem for to goone.
What euer he wan : clowting olde shoone
The wykday, pleynely this is no tale,
Sheo wolde on Sondayes drynk it at the nale. [70]
His part was noon, he sayde not oonys nay.
Hit is no game, but an hernest play
For lack of wit a man his wyf to greeve.
Theos housbondemen : who so wolde hem leeve,
Koude yif they dourst telle : in Audyence,
What folowethe ther of wyves to doone offence.
Is noon so olde ne ryveld on hir face,
Wit tong or staff but that she dare manase.
Mabyle, God hir sauve and blesse,
Koude yif hir list bere here of witnesse, [80]
Wordes, strookes vnhappe, and harde grace,
With sharp nayles kracching in the face.
I mene thus, whane the distaff is brooke
With theyre fistes wyves wol be wrooke.

Blessed thoo men that cane in suche offence
Meekly souffre, take al in pacyence
Tendure suche wyfly purgatorye.