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He was so blythe he turned back,
and thanked God that he was gane,
He had no will to hear her crack,
But told it Mary Magdalene.
When she did hear her sister's mocks,
She went unto the gate with speed:
and asked her who is't that knocks?
'Tis I, the wife of Beith indeed,
She said good mistress you must stand
Till ye be tried by tribulation.
Sister, quoth she, give me your hand,
are we not both of one vocation?
It is not through your occupation,
That you are placed so divine,
My faith is fixed on Christ's passion,
My soul shall be as safe as thine.
Then Mary went away in haste,
The carlin made her so asham'd,
She had no will of such a guest,
To lose her pains and be so blamed.
Now good St. Paul, said Magdalene,
Because you are a learned man,
Go and convince this woman then,
For I have done all that I can:
Sure if she were in hell I doubt,
They would not keep her longer there
Cut to the gate would turn her out;
and send her back to be elsewhere,
Then went the good apostle Paul,
To put the wife in better tune.
