Page:The booke of thenseygnementes and techynge that the Knyght of the Towre made to his doughters - 1902.pdf/97

HOW THE YONG LADYES WERE SCORNED AND MOCKED OF THE OLDE & AUNCYENT.

t befelle that many ladyes and damoysels were come at the weddyng of a maide. As they were goyng toward the place where as the dyner sholde be, they found a passynge fowle wey within a medowe. Thenne said the yong lady, "We shalle wel go thorugh this medowe and leue the hyhe waye." The Auncyent and wyse said they shold go the hyhe way, for it was the best and more sure goynge, and moost drye. The yong ladyes, that ful were of their wylle, wold not folowe them, and thought they shold be bifore them at the said place. And soo they tooke their wey thorugh the medowe, where were old cloddes all roten. And as they were vpon them they brake vnder theyr feet, and soo they felle in the myere and dyrte vnto the knees, and with grete peyne cam they oute ageyne, and took the hyghe weye. They made clene their hosen and gownes with theyr knyues the best they couthe. So long they were in wasshyng of their hoses and gownes that they myght not come to the begynnyng of the dyner. Euery one demaunded & asked after them, but no body couth tell of them. At the last they cam, as the fyrst mes or cours was eten, & after they had taken their refectiō & well drōken, they beganne to telle and recounte how they were falle in the myre vnto the knees to. "Ye," said thenne a good auncyent and wyse lady that was come by the hyhe weye, "Ye wend to take the shortest way to thende ye myght be the sonner & fyrst at the place, & wold not folowe vs. Hit is wel bestowed, for I telle yow for certayne that some wene to auaūce them self, that hyndreth them, and suche one is that weneth to be the first and formest that ofte fyndeth her the last of all." She gaf them these two notables, to thende they shold know their faute, for as saith the said holy

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