anger, and return to thee again, if he has any principle, good nature, or loyal love in him; and if not, you had better be without him, than during your whole life, to be tied to so sour an apple tree. Remember the old Proverb, "Set thy stool in the sun; if a knave goes, an honest man may come." I hope thou hast not been playing the Wanton Wagtail with him, hast thou? No indeed, dear Mother Bunch, but yet, I must needs confess that he fain would have played a lesson on my Lute last market-day, but I would not let him; and that was the cause of our falling out. Sayest thou so, Daughter? Why, then I will tell thee, that since he found thou withstood his temptations, with so much resolution, take my word for it, he will never forget thee. Well, dear Mother, quoth young Susan, your words have been comfortable to me; and when I find the good effects, I will return and give you an account of it. And so farewell, dear Mother, for the present.
Right happy, Daughter, may you be,
In guarding your Virginity.
The next that entered the room, was Margery, the Malster's maid, who, after making a very low courtsey, and giving Mother Bunch the time of the day, desiring to know for what reason she sent her that letter? Why, says the old woman, to the end that I might reveal to you some secrets relating to love, which I have never discovered to the world. But, dear Mother Bunch, quoth Margery, I am a ineer stranger to love, for I never in my life knew what it meant. That may be, quoth Mother Bunch; yet you know not how soon you may receive the arrows of Cupid; then you would be glad of some of my advice, for I know by myself, that the best Virgin of you all, at one time or other, has a desire to. know what it is to lie with a man. Quoth Margery,
