Disciplina Clericalis/Tale 7
VII.[1] The Vine-dresser Deceived by His Wife.
"Suche a man went to cut his vyne. That his wif seeyng than[2] vndirstode hym to dwelle and tarie long aboute it and sent a messangier to cal (f. 123) hir love and lemman, and arraied a feeste. Forsoth it happened and fil so that the lord of the vyne smyten with a braunche in the eye, yeede ageyn anon vnto his house nothyng seeyng with the hurt eye. Comyng to the gate of his [house he] knocked at the doore. That the wif withynfurth [heryng] gretly troubled cald hir love and hid hym, and after that opened the doore vnto hir husbonde. Whiche entryng and gretly sorrowyng for his hurt eye bad array his chamber and make his bedde, as that he myght rest hym. The wif dred lest he entryng the chamber shuld see hir love ther hid, and saide: 'What hastest thow to bedde? First tel me what is the befalle.' And he told hir what was hym befalle. 'O diere sir,' quod she, 'soeffre me that I conferme with craft of medicyne and charme that it come nat to the hool eye as is comen to the hurt eye, forwhi thi hurt and damage is comune to vs both,' settyng hir mowth to the hol eye til hir love from the place wher he was hid went his way and departed, vnwityng the husbond. Than quod she: 'Arise now, diere husbond, for I am sure it shall nat come to the holl eye that is come to the hurt. Now maistow, if it please the to go to thy bedde.' And so was the husbond scorned and bijaped of his wif."[3]
Then the disciple said to his master: "Thou hast advised me well, and what thou hast told me about their guile and wiles I commend to the thirsty and yearning soul; and I would not exchange what I have learned about it for the riches of the Arabs. But if thou pleasest to proceed, instruct me how we may succeed in converting it into action for the future direction of the public." "I will do it," said the master.