that which he got by the labour and travell of his hands: his wife was
a faire young woman, but very lascivious, and given to the appetite and
desire of the flesh. It fortuned on a day, that while this poore man was
gone betimes in the morning to the field about his businesse, according
as he accustomed to doe, his wives lover secretly came into his house to
have his pleasure with her. And so it chanced that during the time
that shee and he were basking together, her husband suspecting no such
matter, returned home praising the chast continency of his wife, in
that hee found his doores fast closed, wherefore as his custome was, he
whistled to declare his comming. Then his crafty wife ready with shifts,
caught her lover and covered him under a great tub standing in a corner,
and therewithall she opened the doore, blaming her husband in this sort:
Commest thou home every day with empty hands, and bringest nothing
to maintaine our house? thou hast no regard for our profit, neither
providest for any meate or drinke, whereas I poore wretch doe nothing
day and night but occupie my selfe with spinning, and yet my travell
will scarce find the Candels which we spend. O how much more happy is my
neighbour Daphne, that eateth and drinketh at her pleasure and passeth
the time with her amorous lovers according to her desire. What is the
matter (quoth her husband) though Our Master hath made holiday at the
fields, yet thinke not but I have made provision for our supper; doest
thou not see this tub that keepeth a place here in our house in vaine,
and doth us no service? Behold I have sold it to a good fellow (that is
here present) for five pence, wherefore I pray thee lend me thy hand,
that I may deliver him the tub. His wife (having invented a present
shift) laughed on her husband, saying: What marchant I pray you have you
brought home hither, to fetch away my tub for five pence, for which I
poore woman that sit all day alone in my house have beene proffered so
often seaven: her husband being well apayed of her words demanded what
he was that had bought the tub: Looke (quoth she) he is gone under, to