¶ The nynthe fable is of the knyght and of the wydowe
He woman whiche lyueth in this
world without reproche or blame
is worthely to be gretely preyſed /
Wherof Eſope reherceth ſuche a
fable of a man and of a woman /
whiche loued moche eche other / It happed thenne
by the effors of Atropos or dethe / the whiche
we al muſt ſuffer that the ſayd man deyde /
And as men wold haue borne hym in to his
graue / whiche was withoute the toune there to
be buryed / his wyf made grete ſorowe and wepte
pyteouſly / And whanne he was buryed / ſhe wold
abyde ſtylle vpon the graue / and lete do make a
lytyll lodge or hows therupon / and oute of this
lodge ſhe wold neuer departe for no prayer ne
fayr word / neyther for ony yeftes ne for menaces
of her parents Now it befell in the toun that a myſdoer
was condampned to be hanged / ¶ And to
thende that he ſhold not be taken fro the gallows /
hit was thenne commaunded that a knyght ſhold
kepe hym / And as the knyght kepte hym / grete
thurſte took hym / And as he perceyued the lodge
