296
THE FABLES OF
the poure man al aſhamed & vergoynous knowynge her thoughte and her wylle / anſuerd thus to her Certaynly my good lady I dare not / but neuertheles he wold fayne haue done hit / And the wydowe al embraced with loue beſeched and prayd hym more and more / And thenne whan the poure man ſawe that he myght not excuſe hym ſelf / he ſayd to the wydowe in this manere / My frend ſyth that thow deſyreſt it for to doo ſoo moche and ſoo grete an euylle / I take god to my wytnes / that thow arte cauſer of hit / For I am not conſentynge to the faytte or dede / but ſayenge theſe wordes he conſented to her wylle
¶ The thyrd fable is of a yonge woman whiche accuſed her huſbond of coulpe or blame
[Omitted. Cf. Poggio Facetiæ 45.]
