[Gutenberg 18575] • One Hundred Merrie And Delightsome Stories / Right Pleasaunte To Relate In All Goodly Companie By Way Of Joyance And Jollity

Excerpt: ... was treasurer of the household, and who sang and played the harp well. After dinner he would often play, which gave madame great pleasure, and she would often come to him when she heard the sound of his harp. She came so often that the clerk at last made love to her, and she, being desirous to put on her hauberk again, listened to his petition, and replied; "Come to me at a certain time, in such a chamber, and I will give you a reply that will please you." She was greatly thanked, and at the hour named, the clerk did not fail to rap at the door of the chamber the lady had indicated, where she was quietly awaiting him with her fine hauberk on her back. She opened the door, and the clerk saw her armed, and thinking that some one was concealed there to do him a mischief, was so scared that, in his fright, he tumbled down backwards I know not how many stairs, and might have broken his neck, but luckily he was not hurt, for, being in a good cause, God protected him. Madame, who saw his danger, was much vexed and displeased; she ran down and helped him to rise, and asked why he was in such fear? He told her that truly he thought he had fallen into an ambush. "You have nothing to fear," she said, "I am not armed with the intention of doing you any hurt," and so saying they mounted the stairs together, and entered the chamber. "Madame," said the clerk, "I beg of you to tell me, if you please, why you have put on this hauberk?" She blushed and replied, "You know very well." "By my oath, madame, begging your pardon," said he, "if I had known I should not have asked." "My husband," she replied, "whenever he would kiss me, and talk of love, makes me dress in this way; and as I know that you have come here for that purpose, I prepared myself accordingly." "Madame," he said, "you are right, and I remember now that it is the manner of knights to arm their ladies in this way. But clerks have another method, which, in my opinion is much nicer and more...