Vulgar words in Mediaeval Tales (Page 1)

This book at a glance

ass x 4
bastard x 1
            

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~   ~   ~   Sentence 2,232   ~   ~   ~

When the youngest brother was letten blood, and done unto in all things as the two brethren were before, then the king's servants began to wash the bone, but neither for washing nor rubbing might they do away the blood of the bone, but it ever appeared bloody: when the king saw this, he said, "It appeareth openly now that this blood is of the nature of the bone, thou art his true son, and the other two are bastards.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 2,598   ~   ~   ~

After him came Cannagosta, being white and grey mixed, exceeding curled and hairy; he had a head like the head of an ass, and a tail like a cat, and claws like an ox, lacking nothing of an ell broad.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 2,882   ~   ~   ~

If I should carry it home it would stink and infect my house; besides, it is too hard a piece of work to set it on again: wherefore, what an ass was Faustus to lay so great a pawn for so small a sum of money!

~   ~   ~   Sentence 2,971   ~   ~   ~

It seemed to each one of them that they had no heads; and so they went forth unto certain of their neighbours, at which sight the people were most wonderfully afraid; and as the use of Germany is, that wheresoever a mask entereth the good man of the house must feast him, so as these maskers were set to their banquet, they seemed again in their former shape with heads, insomuch that they were all known whom they were; and having sat and well eat and drank, Dr. Faustus made that every one had an ass's head on, with great long ears, so they fell to dancing and to drive away the time until it was midnight, and then every one departed home; and as soon as they were out of the house, each one was in his natural shape, and so they ended and went to sleep.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 2,998   ~   ~   ~

Now Faustus had this quality, he seldom rid, but commonly walked afoot to ease himself when he list; and as he came near unto the town of Brunswick there overtook him a clown with four horses and an empty waggon, to whom Dr. Faustus (jestingly, to try him) said: "I pray thee, good fellow, let me ride a little to ease my weary legs;" which the buzzardly ass denied, saying that his horse was weary; and he would not let him get up.

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