14:317;0167['  ]| This meanwhile this good sister stood by$4$ the door and begged them at
14:317;0168['  ]| the reverence of Jesu our alther liege Lord to$9$ leave their wassailing for$3$ there
14:317;0169['  ]| was above one quick with child, a gentle dame, whose time hied fast. Sir*Leopold 
14:318;0170['  ]| heard on$4$ the upfloor cry on$4$ high and he wondered what cry that$6#1$ it
14:318;0171['  ]| was whether of child or woman 
14:318;0171[C  ]| and I marvel, 
14:318;0171['  ]| said he, 
14:318;0171[C  ]| that$3$ it be not come or
14:318;0172[C  ]| now. Meseems it dureth overlong. 
14:318;0172['  ]| And he was ware and saw a franklin that$6#1$
14:318;0173['  ]| hight Lenehan on$4$ that$6#2$ side the table that$6#1$ was older than any of the tother
14:318;0174['  ]| and for$3$ that$3$ they both were knights virtuous in$4$ the one emprise and eke by$4$
14:318;0175['  ]| cause that$3$ he was elder he spoke to$4$ him full gently. 
14:318;0175[C  ]| But, 
14:318;0175['  ]| said he, 
14:318;0175[C  ]| or it be
14:318;0176[C  ]| long too she will$1$ bring forth by$4$ God His bounty and have joy of her
14:318;0177[C  ]| childing for$3$ she hath waited marvellous long. 
14:318;0177['  ]| And the franklin that$6#1$ had
14:318;0178['  ]| drunken said, 
14:318;0178[ZD ]| Expecting each moment to$9$ be her next. 
14:318;0178['  ]| Also he took the cup
14:318;0179['  ]| that$6#1$ stood tofore him for$3$ him needed never none asking nor desiring of him
14:318;0180['  ]| to$9$ drink and, 
14:318;0180[ZD ]| Now drink, 
14:318;0180['  ]| said he, fully delectably, and he quaffed as far as
14:318;0181['  ]| he might to$4$ their both's health for$3$ he was a passing good man of his
14:318;0182['  ]| lustiness. And sir*Leopold that$6#1$ was the goodliest guest that$6#1$ ever sat in$4$
14:318;0183['  ]| scholars' hall and that$6#2$ was the meekest man and the kindest that$6#1$ ever laid
14:318;0184['  ]| husbandly hand under hen and that$6#2$ was the very truest knight of the world
14:318;0185['  ]| one that$6#1$ ever did minion service to$4$ lady gentle pledged him courtly in$4$ the
14:318;0186['  ]| cup. Woman's woe with wonder pondering.
14:318;0187['  ]| Now let us speak of that$6#2$ fellowship that$6#1$ was there to$4$ the intent to$9$ be
14:318;0188['  ]| drunken an they might. There was a sort of scholars along either side the
14:318;0189['  ]| board, that$6#1$ is to$9$ wit, Dixon yclept junior of saint*Mary*Merciable's with
14:318;0190['  ]| other his fellows Lynch and Madden, scholars of medicine, and the franklin
14:318;0191['  ]| that$6#1$ hight Lenehan and one from Alba*Longa, one Crotthers, and young
14:318;0192['  ]| Stephen that$6#1$ had mien of a frere that$6#1$ was at head of the board and Costello
14:318;0193['  ]| that$6#1$ men clepen Punch*Costello all long of a mastery of him erewhile gested
14:318;0194['  ]| (and of all them, reserved young Stephen, he was the most drunken that$6#1$
14:318;0195['  ]| demanded still of more mead) and beside the meek sir*Leopold. But on$4$
14:318;0196['  ]| young Malachi they waited for$3$ that$3$ he promised to$9$ have come and such as
14:318;0197['  ]| intended to$4$ no$2$ goodness said how he had broke his avow. And sir*Leopold
14:318;0198['  ]| sat with them for$3$ he bore fast friendship to$4$ sir*Simon and to$4$ this his son
14:318;0199['  ]| young Stephen and for$4$ that$6#2$ his languor becalmed him there after longest
14:318;0200['  ]| wanderings insomuch as they feasted him for$4$ that$6#2$ time in$4$ the honourablest
14:318;0201['  ]| manner. Ruth red him, love led on$5$ with will$0$ to$9$ wander, loth to$9$ leave.
14:318;0202['  ]| For$3$ they were right witty scholars. And he heard their aresouns each
14:318;0203['  ]| gen other as touching birth and righteousness, young Madden maintaining
14:318;0204['  ]| that$3$ 
14:318;0204[X  ]| put such case it were hard the wife to$9$ die (for$3$ so$5#2$ it had fallen out a
14:318;0205[X  ]| matter of some year agone with a woman of Eblana in$4$ Horne's house that$6#1$
14:318;0206[X  ]| now was trespassed out of this world and the self night next before her
14:318;0207[X  ]| death all leeches and pothecaries had taken counsel of her case). 
14:318;0207['  ]| And they
14:318;0208['  ]| said farther 
14:318;0208[X  ]| she should live because in$4$ the beginning, 
14:318;0208['  ]| they said, 
14:318;0208[X  ]| the woman
14:318;0209[X  ]| should bring forth in$4$ pain 
14:318;0209['  ]| and wherefore they that$6#1$ were of this imagination
14:318;0210['  ]| affirmed 
14:318;0210[X  ]| how young Madden had said truth for$3$ he had conscience to$9$ let her
14:318;0211[X  ]| die. 
14:318;0211['  ]| And not few and of these was young Lynch were in$4$ doubt that$3$ the
14:318;0212['  ]| world was now right evil governed as it was never other howbeit the mean
14:318;0213['  ]| people believed it otherwise but the law nor his judges did provide no$2$
14:318;0214['  ]| remedy. A redress God grant. This was scant said but all cried with one
14:319;0215['  ]| acclaim 
14:319;0215[X  ]| nay, by$4$ our Virgin*Mother, the wife should live and the babe to$9$ die.
14:319;0216['  ]| In$4$ colour whereof they waxed hot upon$4$ that$6#2$ head what with argument and
14:319;0217['  ]| what for$4$ their drinking but the franklin Lenehan was prompt each when to$9$
14:319;0218['  ]| pour them ale so$3$ that$3$ at the least way mirth might not lack. Then young
14:319;0219['  ]| Madden showed all the whole affair and said 
14:319;0219[X  ]| how that$3$ she was dead and
14:319;0220[X  ]| how for$4$ holy religion sake by$4$ rede of palmer and bedesman and for$4$ a vow
14:319;0221[X  ]| he had made to$4$ Saint*Ultan of Arbraccan her goodman husband would not
14:319;0222[X  ]| let her death 
14:319;0222['  ]| whereby they were all wondrous grieved. To$4$ whom young
14:319;0223['  ]| Stephen had these words following: 
14:319;0223[B  ]| Murmur, sirs, is eke oft among lay folk.
14:319;0224[B  ]| Both babe and parent now glorify their Maker, the one in$4$ limbo gloom, the
14:319;0225[B  ]| other in$4$ purgefire. But, gramercy, what of those Godpossibled souls that$6#1$ we
14:319;0226[B  ]| nightly impossibilise, which$6#1$ is the sin against the Holy Ghost, Very God,
14:319;0227[B  ]| Lord and Giver of Life? For$3$, sirs, 
14:319;0227['  ]| he said, 
14:319;0227[B  ]| our lust is brief. We are means to$4$
14:319;0228[B  ]| those small creatures within us and nature has other ends than we. 
14:319;0228['  ]| Then
14:319;0229['  ]| said Dixon junior to$4$ Punch*Costello 
14:319;0229[X  ]| wist he what ends. 
14:319;0229['  ]| But he had
14:319;0230['  ]| overmuch drunken and the best word he could have of him was that$3$ 
14:319;0230[X  ]| he
14:319;0231[X  ]| would ever dishonest a woman whoso she were or wife or maid or leman if
14:319;0232[X  ]| it so$5#1$ fortuned him to$9$ be delivered of his spleen of lustihead. 
14:319;0232['  ]| Whereat
14:319;0233['  ]| Crotthers of Alba*Longa sang young Malachi's praise of that$6#2$ beast the
14:319;0234['  ]| unicorn how once in$4$ the millennium he cometh by$4$ his horn, the other all
14:319;0235['  ]| this while, pricked forward with their jibes wherewith they did malice him,
14:319;0236['  ]| witnessing all and several by$4$ saint*Foutinus his engines that$3$ he was able to$9$
14:319;0237['  ]| do any manner of thing that$6#1$ lay in$4$ man to$9$ do. 
14:319;0237['  ]| Thereat laughed they all
14:319;0238['  ]| right jocundly only young Stephen and sir*Leopold which$6#1$ never durst laugh
14:319;0239['  ]| too open by$4$ reason of a strange humour which$6#1$ he would not bewray and
14:319;0240['  ]| also for$3$ that$3$ he rued for$4$ her that$6#1$ bare whoso she might be or wheresoever.
14:319;0241['  ]| Then spake young Stephen orgulous of mother Church that$6#1$ would cast him
14:319;0242['  ]| out of her bosom, of law of canons, of Lilith, patron of abortions, of bigness
14:319;0243['  ]| wrought by$4$ wind of seeds of brightness or by$4$ potency of vampires mouth to$4$
14:319;0244['  ]| mouth or, as Virgilius saith, by$4$ the influence of the occident or by$4$ the reek
14:319;0245['  ]| of moonflower or an she lie with a woman which$6#1$ her man has but lain with,
14:319;0246['  ]| \effectu secuto\, or peradventure in$4$ her bath according to$4$ the opinions of
14:319;0247['  ]| Averroes and Moses*Maimonides. He said also how 
14:319;0247[X  ]| at the end of the second
14:319;0248[X  ]| month a human soul was infused and how in$4$ all our holy mother foldeth
14:319;0249[X  ]| ever souls for$4$ God's greater glory whereas that$6#2$ earthly mother which$6#1$ was
14:319;0250[X  ]| but a dam to$9$ bear beastly should die by$4$ canon for$3$ so$5#2$ saith he that$6#1$ holdeth
14:319;0251[X  ]| the fisherman's seal, even that$6#2$ blessed Peter on$4$ which$6#1$ rock was holy church
14:319;0252[X  ]| for$4$ all ages founded. 
14:319;0252['  ]| All they bachelors then asked of sir*Leopold would he
14:319;0253['  ]| in$4$ like$2$ case so$5#2$ jeopard her person as risk life to$9$ save life. A wariness of mind
14:319;0254['  ]| he would answer as fitted all and, laying hand to$4$ jaw, he said dissembling,
14:319;0255['  ]| as his wont was, that$3$ 
14:319;0255[X  ]| as it was informed him, who$6#1$ had ever loved the art of
14:319;0256[X  ]| physic as might a layman, and agreeing also with his experience of so$5#1$
14:319;0257[X  ]| seldomseen an accident it was good for$4$ that$6#2$ mother Church belike at one
14:319;0258[X  ]| blow had birth and death pence 
14:319;0258['  ]| and in$4$ such sort deliverly he scaped their
14:319;0259['  ]| questions. 
14:319;0259[V  ]| That$6#2$ is truth, pardy, 
14:319;0259['  ]| said Dixon, 
14:319;0259[V  ]| and, or I err, a pregnant word.
14:320;0260['  ]| Which$6#1$ hearing young Stephen was a marvellous glad man and he averred
14:320;0261['  ]| that$3$ 
14:320;0261[X  ]| he who$6#1$ stealeth from the poor lendeth to$4$ the Lord 
14:320;0261['  ]| for$3$ he was of a wild
14:320;0262['  ]| manner when he was drunken and that$3$ he was now in$4$ that$6#2$ taking it
14:320;0263['  ]| appeared eftsoons.
14:320;0264['  ]| But sir*Leopold was passing grave maugre his word by$4$ cause he still
14:320;0265['  ]| had pity of the terrorcausing shrieking of shrill women in$4$ their labour and
14:320;0266['  ]| as he was minded of his good lady*Marion that$6#1$ had borne him an only
14:320;0267['  ]| manchild which$6#1$ on$4$ his eleventh day on$4$ live had died and no$2$ man of art
14:320;0268['  ]| could save so$5#1$ dark is destiny. And she was wondrous stricken of heart for$4$
14:320;0269['  ]| that$6#2$ evil hap and for$4$ his burial did him on$5$ a fair corselet of lamb's wool, the
14:320;0270['  ]| flower of the flock, lest he might perish utterly and lie akeled (for$3$ it was
14:320;0271['  ]| then about the midst of the winter) and now sir*Leopold that$6#1$ had of his
14:320;0272['  ]| body no$2$ manchild for$4$ an heir looked upon$4$ him his friend's son and was
14:320;0273['  ]| shut up$5$ in$4$ sorrow for$4$ his forepassed happiness and as sad as he was that$3$
14:320;0274['  ]| him failed a son of such gentle courage (for$3$ all accounted him of real parts)
14:320;0275['  ]| so$5#1$ grieved he also in$4$ no$2$ less measure for$4$ young Stephen for$3$ that$3$ he lived
14:320;0276['  ]| riotously with those wastrels and murdered his goods with whores.