him, lest they themselves be soiled. In the end he found in the lobby a stool on which he sat near one of the maidens, whom he scrutinised closely.
She drew away from him; Jean pinched her, rudely snatched away her handkerchief when she sought to make use of it, and laughed like a fool. Then, thinking to succeed with her, he tugged so violently at her petticoat that he broke the strings that held it up. The maiden, half undressed, was enraged, and Jean was kicked out of doors, amid the shouting and jeering of the entire company.
From this moment Jean the Fool had no desire to pay court to maidens. But his mother, who felt herself growing old and had need of a daughter-in-law to aid her, said to him one day:
"Jean, thou must marry."
"Nay, indeed, mother mine. I was tricked enough when I saw the maidens."
"Nevertheless, 'tis good to be married. Thy wife will give thee a chicken to eat."[1]
Jean gave his consent and was married. When he was abed with his wife, he believed that she would serve up a chicken for him, and he said to her:
"Give it me."
"Take it," answered his wife.
"Give it me, I tell thee."
"Take it, then."
Thus passed the night, and on the morrow
- ↑ The play on words here is somewhat obscure. Manger un poulet is not a slang term for the sexual act. Interpreting freely, we might read: "Will give thee a chicken to pluck," i.e.: her virginity. This is borne out by the wife's subsequent behaviour. On the other hand, the mother may be speaking simply and literally.
108
