A Friend of mine was married to a scold,<o:p></o:p> To me he came,and all his troubles told.<o:p></o:p> Said he,`She`s like a woman raving mad.`<o:p></o:p> `Alas! My friend,`that`s very bad!<o:p></o:p> `No,not so bad,` said he,for with her,true<o:p></o:p> I had both house and land,and money too,`<o:p></o:p> That`s very well,`saidI;<o:p></o:p> No,not so well,`said he;<o:p></o:p> ` For I and her own brother<o:p></o:p> Went to law with one another;<o:p></o:p> I was cast,the suit was lost,<o:p></o:p> And every penny went to pay the cost,`<o:p></o:p> `That was bad,` said I;<o:p></o:p> No,not so bad,` said he:`<o:p></o:p> `For we agreed that he the house should keep,<o:p></o:p> And give me <st1:time Minute="20" Hour="4">four score</st1:time> of <st1:place>Yorkshire</st1:place> sheep<o:p></o:p> All fat,and fair,and fine,they were to be,``<o:p></o:p> `Well,then,`said I,`sure that was well for thee?`<o:p></o:p> `No,not so well,` said he;<o:p></o:p> `For when the sheep I got,<o:p></o:p> They every one died of the rot.`<o:p></o:p> `That was bad,` said I;<o:p></o:p> `No,not so bad ,`said he;<o:p></o:p> `For I had thought to scrape the fat<o:p></o:p> And keep it in an oaken vat;<o:p></o:p> Then into tallow melt for winter store,`<o:p></o:p> `Well then,` said I, `that`s better than before?`<o:p></o:p> ‘`”Twas not so well,`said he;<o:p></o:p> `For having got a clumsy fellow<o:p></o:p> To scrape the fat and melt the tallow;<o:p></o:p> Into the melting fat the fire catches,<o:p></o:p> And,like brimstone matches,<o:p></o:p> Burnt my house to ashes.`<o:p></o:p> `That was bad,` said I;<o:p></o:p> `No, not so bad,`said he;`for,what is best,<o:p></o:p> My scolding wife has gone among the rest