Howe wyves make hir housbandes wynne heven, [170]
Maugre the feonde and al his vyolence.
For theyre vertu of parfyte pacyence
Partenethe not to wyves nowe adayes,
Sauf on theyre housbandes for to make assayes.
Ther pacyence was buryed long agoo,
Gresyldes story recordethe pleinly soo.

It longethe to vs to clappen as a mylle,
No counseyle keepe, but the trouth oute telle.
We beo not borne by hevenly influence
Of oure nature to keepe vs in sylence. [180]
For this is no doute, euery prudent wyff
Hathe redy aunswere in al suche maner stryff,
Thoughe theos dotardes, with theyre dokked berdes
Which strowtethe out as they were made of herdes,
Haue ageyn hus a gret quarell nowe sette.
I trowe the bakoun was neuer of hem fette
Awaye at Dounmowe in the Pryorye.
They weene of vs to haue ay the maystrye.
Ellas theos fooles let hem aunswere here to,
Whoo cane hem wasshe, who can hem wring alsoo, [190]
Wryng hem, yee wryng, so als god vs speed,
Til that some tyme we make hir nases bleed,
And sowe hir cloothes whane they beothe to rent,
And clowte hir bakkes til some of vs beo shent.
Loo yit theos fooles, god gyf hem sory chaunce,
Wolde sette hir wyves vnder gouuernaunce,
Make vs to hem for to lowte lowe:
We knowe to weel the bent of Iackys bowe.