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therefore I pray you mother tell me the whole story. By and by the old woman which knew well to babble, began to
tell as followeth.
THE FORTY-FIRST CHAPTER
How Barbarus being jealous over his wife, commanded that shee should be kept close in his house, and
what happened.
You shall understand that on a day this Barbarus preparing himselfe to ride abroad, and willing to keepe the chastity
of his wife (whom he so well loved) alone to himselfe, called his man Myrmex (whose faith he had tryed and proved
in many things) and secretly committed to him the custody of his wife, willing him that he should threaten, that if
any man did but touch her with his finger as he passed by, he would not onely put him in prison, and bind him hand
and foote, but also cause him to be put to death, or else to be famished for lacke of sustenance, which words he
confirmed by an oath of all the Gods in heaven, and so departed away: When Barbarus was gone, Myrmex being
greatly astonied of his masters threatnings, would not suffer his mistresse to goe abroad, but as she sate all day a
Spinning, he was so carefull that he sate by her; when night came he went with her to the baines, holding her by the
garment, so faithfull he was to fulfill the commandement of his master: Howbeit the beauty of this matron could not
be hidden from the burning eyes of Philesiterus, who considering her great chastity, and how she was diligently kept
by Myrmex, thought it impossible to have his purpose, yet (indeavouring by all kind of meanes to enterprise the
matter, and remembring the fragility of man, that might be intised and corrupted with money, since as by gold the
adamant gates may be opened) on a day, when he found Myrmex alone, he discovered his love, desiring him to shew
his favour, (otherwise he should certainly dye) with assurance that he need not to feare when as he might privily be
let in and out in the night, without knowledge of any person. When he thought, with these and other gentle words to
allure and prick forward the obstinate mind of Myrmex he shewed him glittering gold in his hand, saying that he
would give his mistresse twenty crowns and him ten, but Myrmex hearing these words, was greatly troubled,
abhorring in his mind to commit such a mischiefe: wherfore he stopped his eares, and turning his head departed
away: howbeit the glittering view of these crownes could never out of his mind, but being at home he seemed to see
the money before his eyes, which was so worthy a prey, wherefore poore Myrmex being in divers opinions could not
tell what to doe, for on the one side he considered the promise which he made to his master, and the punishment that
should ensue if he did contrary. On the other side he thought of the gaine, and the passing pleasure of the crownes of
gold; in the end the desire of the money did more prevaile then the feare of death, for the beauty of the flowrishing
crownes did so sticke in his mind, that where the menaces of his master compelled him to tarry at home, the pestilent
avarice of gold egged him out a doores, wherefore putting all shame aside, without further delay, he declared all the
whole matter to his Mistresse, who according to the nature of a woman, when she heard him speake of so great a
summe, she bound chastity in a string, and gave authority to Myrmex to rule her in that case. Myrmex seeing the
intent of his Mistresse, was very glad, and for great desire of the gold, he ran hastily to Philesiterus, declaring that
his Mistresse was consented to his mind, wherefore he demanded the gold which he promised. Then incontinently
Philesiterus delivered him ten Crownes, and when night came, Myrmex brought him disguised into his mistresses
Chamber. About Midnight when he and she were naked together, making sacrifice unto the Goddesse Venus, behold
her husband (contrary to their expectation) came and knocked at the doore, calling with a loud voice to his Servant
Myrmex: whose long tarrying increased the suspition of his Master, in such sort that he threatned to beat Myrmex
cruelly: but he being troubled with feare, and driven to his latter shifts, excused the matter saying: that he could not
find the key: by reason it was so darke. In the meane season Philesiterus hearing the noise at the doore, slipt on his
coat and privily ran out of the Chamber. When Myrmex had opened the doore to his Master that threatned terribly,
and had let him in, he went into the Chamber to his wife: In the mean while Myrmex let out Philesiterus, and barred
the doores fast, and went againe to bed. The next morning when Barbarus awaked, he perceived two unknown
slippers lying under his bed, which Philesiterus had forgotten when he went away. Then he conceived a great
suspition and jealousie in mind, howbeit he would not discover it to his wife, neither to any other person, but putting
secretly the slippers into his bosome, commanded his other Servants to bind Myrmex incontinently, and to bring him
bound to the Justice after him, thinking verily that by the meane of the slippers he might boult out the matter. It
fortuned that while Barbarus went towards the Justice in a fury and rage, and Myrmex fast bound, followed him
weeping, not because he was accused before his master, but by reason he knew his owne conscience guilty: behold
by adventure Philesiterus (going about his earnest businesse) fortuned to meet with them by the way, who fearing
the matter which he committed the night before, and doubting lest it should be knowne, did suddainly invent a
meane to excuse Myrmex, for he ran upon him and beate him about the head with his fists, saying: Ah mischievous
varlet that thou art, and perjured knave. It were a good deed if the Goddesse and thy master here, would put thee to
death, for thou art worthy to be imprisoned and to weare out these yrons, that stalest my slippers away when thou
werest at my baines yester night. Barbarus hearing this returned incontinently home, and called his servant Myrmex,
commanding him to deliver the slippers againe to the right owner. The old woman had scant finished her tale when
the Bakers wife gan say: Verily she is blessed and most blessed, that hath the fruition of so worthy a lover, but as for
me poore miser, I am fallen into the hands of a coward, who is not onely afraid of my husband but also of every clap
of the mill, and dares not doe nothing, before the blind face of yonder scabbed Asse. Then the old woman answered,
I promise you certainly if you will, you shall have this young man at your pleasure, and therewithall when night
came, she departed out of her chamber. In the meane season, the Bakers wife made ready a supper with abundance
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