Our Goodman
No: 274; variant: 274B
- O I went into the stable,
and there for to see,
And there I saw three horses stand,
by one, by two, and by three.
- O I calld to my loving wife,
and 'Anon, kind sir!' quoth she:
'O what do these three horses here,
without the leave of me?'
- 'Why, you old cuckold, blind cuckold,
can't you very well see?
These are three milking-cows,
my mother sent O me.'
- 'Heyday! Godzounds! Milking-cows with bridles and saddles on!
the like was never known!'
Old Wichet a cuckold went out,
and a cuckold he came home.
- O I went into the kitchen,
and there for to see,
And there I saw three swords hang,
by one, by two, and by three.
- O I calld to my loving wife,
and 'Anon, kind sir!' quoth she:
'O what do these three swords do here,
without the leave of me?'
- 'Why, you old cuckold, blind cuckold,
can't you very well see?
They are three roasting-spits,
my mother sent to me.'
- 'Heyday! Godzounds! Roasting spits with scabbards on!
the like was never known!'
Old Wichet a cuckold went out,
and a cuckold he came home.
- O I went into the parlour,
and there for to see,
And there I saw three cloaks hang,
by one, by two, and by three.
- O I calld to my loving wife,
and 'Anon, kind sir!' quoth she:
'O what do these three cloaks do here,
without the leave of me?'
- Why, you old cuckold, blind cuckold,
can't you very well see?
These are three mantuas,
my mother sent to me.'
- 'Heyday! Godzounds! Mantuas with capes on!
the like was never known!'
Old Wichet a cuckold went out,
and a cuckold he came home.
- I went into the pantry,
and there for to see,
And there I saw three pair of boots hang,
by one, by two, and by three.
- O I called to my loving wife,
and 'Anon, kind sir!' quoth she
'O what do these three pair of boots do here,
without the leave of me?'
- 'Why, you old cuckold, blind cuckold,
can't you very well see?
These are three pudding-bags,
my mother sent to me.'
- 'Heyday! Godzounds! Pudding-bags with spurs on!
the like was never known!'
Old Wichet a cuckold went out,
and a cuckold he came home.
- I went into my closet,
and there for to see,
And there I saw three pair of breeches lie,
by one, by two, and by three.
- O I calld to my loving wife,
and 'Anon, kind sir!' quoth she:
'O what do these three pair of breeches do here,
without the leave of me?'
- 'Why, you old cuckold, blind cuckold,
can't you very well see?
These are three petticoats,
my mother sent to me.'
- 'Heyday! Godzounds! Petticoats with waistbands on!
the like was never known!'
Old Wichet a cuckold went out,
and a cuckold he came home.
- I went into the dairy,
and there for to see,
And there I saw three hats hang,
by one, by two, and by three.
- I calld to my loving wife,
and 'Anon, kind sir!' quoth she:
'Pray what do these three hats do here,
without the leave of me?'
- 'Why, you old cuckold, blind cuckold,
can't you very well see?
They are three skimming-dishes,
my mother sent to me.'
- 'Heyday! Godzounds! Skimming-dishes with hat-bands on!
the like was never known!'
Old Wichet a cuckold went out,
and a cuckold he came home.
- I went into the chamber,
and there for to see,
And there I saw three men in bed lie,
by one, by two, and by three.
- I called to my loving wife,
and 'Anon, kind sir!' quoth she:
'O what do these three men in bed,
without the leave of me?'
- 'Why, you old cuckold, blind cuckold,
don't you very well see?
They are three milking-maids,
my mother sent to me.'
- 'Heyday! Godzounds! Milking-maids with beards on!
the like was never known!'
Old Wichet a cuckold went out,
and a cuckold he came home.