Note 108 — Chapter V · THE HUSBAND AND THE VARIOUS WAYS OF SLIPPING HIS YOKE

Qui veut ouir belle chanson D’une fillette de Lyon Qui d’amour fut requise, Ale houe! En venant de l’église. Mais elle en fut reprise! Ale houe! Un bon copain lui voulut donner Cent florins pour la marier, Mais (Pourvu) qu’elle fût s’amie. Ale houe! Prenez-les, je vous prie; De cœur les vous octroie. Ale houe! A sa mère s’en conseilla, Qui lui dit que bien la gardera De cette maladie. Ale houe! Il peut bien dire pie, Car il ne l’aura mie. Ale houe! “Les amoureux du temps présent Font des promesses largement, Et montrent main garnie. Ale houe! Mais folle est qui s’y fie: Trop coûte la folie! Ale houe!” La fillette ne voulut pas Son conseil croire, en celui cas; Car elle eut plus grant joie, Ale houe! De gagner sa monnaie, Cent florins de Savoie. Ale houe! Cent florins sont beaux et luisants; S’elle eust fillé vint et cincq ans, Voire toute sa vie, Ale houe! Toute sa fillerie N’en vaudrait la moitié. Ale houe!

[Who lists to hear a famous ditty All on a maid of Lyons city, Who as she came from church one day (Hey nonny!) Was sought in love the usual way— And sore she smarted, gossips say— (Hey nonny!) The jolly youth would give, he said, A hundred florins her to wed If she would first his leman be. (Hey nonny!) “Prithee, take them, dear,” says he, “With all my heart I give them thee.” (Hey nonny!) The hussy home did straight repair: Her mother counselled her: “Beware! Lest it repent thee by and by; (Hey nonny!) For though he speak thee fair and sigh, His precious gold is all my eye! (Hey nonny!) “The young men of the present day, Promise more largely than they pay, And though their purse well filled appear, (Hey nonny!) The girl who trusts to it, I fear, Will find her folly cost her dear.” (Hey nonny!) Alack! the hussy tossed her head, Heedless of what her mother said, For ’twas to her a greater joy (Hey nonny!) To get the money from her boy— Those hundred florins of Savoy. (Hey nonny!) A hundred! how they gleamed and shone! Had she sat spinning on and on Full twenty year, till worn and old, (Hey nonny!) Not all the thread she’d spun and sold Had brought her half that shining gold. (Hey nonny!)]