WoB Manipulation Quotes

Question 1

Question husbands about the maid

Answer 1

What rowne ye with oure maide? Benedicite!

Question 2

The wife argues against the idea that wives save their vices for after marriage

Answer 2

Thow seist we wives wol oure vices hide
Till we be fast, and thanne we wol hem shewe -
Wel may that be a proverbe of a shrewe!

Question 3

What animal is the wife like that has a pretty coat that it likes to show off?

Answer 3

I was lyk a cat (…) And if the cattes skin be slik and gay, (…)
To shewe hir skin, and goon a-caterwawed.

Question 4

The wife openly says she lies to her husbands and uses their drunkenness to her advantage

Answer 4

Baar I stifly mine olde housbondes on honde
That this they seyden in hir dronkenesse;
And al was fals, but that I took witnesse;
On Janekin, and in my nece also,
O Lord! The peyne I dide them and the wo

Question 5

What else would the wife do excessively to manipulate her husbands into guilt?

Answer 5

I koulde pleyne, and yit was in the gilt,
Or elles often time hadde I been spilt,
Whoso that first to mille comth, first grint;
I pleyned first, so was oure werre ystint. (I could complain, even if I was guilty, so much so that our arguments were stopped)

Question 6

What has God given to women?

Answer 6

Deceite, weping, spinning God hath yive

To wommen kindly”

Question 7

With her manipulation, did she get the better of each husband?

Answer 7

Atte ends I hadde the bettre in ech decree,
By sleighte, or force, or by som maner thing,
As by continueel murmur or grucching.

Question 8

The wife console her angry husband by telling him to be like Wilkin their sheep since he preaches about Job

Answer 8

Goode lief, taak keep
How mekely looketh Wilkin, oure sheep!
Com neer, my spouse, and lat me ba thy cheke!
Ye sholde be al pacient and meke, (...)
Sith ye so preche of Jobes pacience

Question 9

The wife flirts with Jankin before her 4th husband dies and tells him what?

Answer 9

I spak to him and seyde to him how that he,

If I were widwe, sholde wedde me.

Question 10

What does the wife say to Jankin after he hit her to make him feel guilty?

Answer 10

O, hastow slain me, false theef? I seyde,
And for my land thus hastow mordred me?
Er I be deed, yet I wol kisse thee

Question 11

What does Jankin then ice the wife after hurting her?

Answer 11

He yaf me al the bridel in myn hond,
To han the governance of hous and lond,
And of his tonge, and his hond also;
And made him brenne his book anon right tho (...)
By maistrie, al the soverainetee