"Sir, welcome home" (quoth shee); "this night
For you I did not looke."
Then did he question her of such
His stuffe bestowed soe.
"Forsooth," quoth she, "because I did
Your love and lodging knowe:
"Your love to be a proper wench,
Your lodging nothing lesse;
I held it for your health, the house
More decently to dresse.
"Well wot I, notwithstanding her,
Your lordship loveth me;
And greater hope to hold you such
By quiet, then brawles, you see.
"Then for my duty, your delight,
And to retaine your favour,
All done I did, and patiently
Expect your wonted 'haviour."
Her patience, witte and answer wrought
His gentle teares to fall:
When (kissing her a score of times)
"Amend, sweet wife, I shall:"
He said, and did it; so each wife
Her husband may recall.
NOTES
- Tocheckis a term in falconry, applied when a hawk stops and turns away from his
proper pursuit: To check also signifies to reprove or chide. It is in this verse used in
both senses.