Enothea, entring, plac'd the fire, that with broken sticks she had got
together, and having heapt more wood upon those, began to excuse her
stay, that her friend wou'd not let her go before she had, against the
laws of drinking, taken off three healths together. When looking
about her, "What," said she, "have you been doing in my absence?
Where's the bean?"
I, who thought I had behav'd my self very honourably, told her the
whole fight; and to end her grief for the loss of her bean, presented
the goose: when I shew'd the goose, the old woman set up such an
out-cry, that you wou'd have thought the geese were re-entring the
place.
In confusion and amaz'd at so strange a humour, I askt the meaning of
her passion? or why she pity'd the goose rather than me.
But wringing her hands, "you wicked wretch," said she, "d'ye speak
too? D'ye know what you've done? You've killed the gods delight, a
goose the pleasure of all matrons: And, lest you shou'd think your
self innocent, if a magistrate shou'd hear of it, you'd be hang'd.
You have defil'd with blood my cell, that to this day had been
inviolate. You have done that, for which, if any's so malicious, he
may expel me my office."
She said, and trembling, rends her aged hairs,
And both her cheeks with wilder fury tears:
Sad murmurs from her troubl'd breast arise,
A shower of tears there issu'd from her eyes.
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