138 THE PLEASANT HISTORY OF CHAP.

read, neither do I desire to buy your foal, only
I am a messenger from the wolf, who hath a
great desire to have it.” ‘Then,’ said the
mare, “let him come himself, and I will give
him satisfaction.”

‘Then went I to the wolf, and told him
what the mare said, assuring him that if he
pleased, he might have his belly full of the
foal, provided he could read, for the price was
written in the mare’s hinder foot. ‘ Read,”
said the wolf, “what should ail me? I can,
cousin, read Latin, French, English, and
Dutch; I have studied in Oxford, and argued
with many doctors; I have heard many stately
plays, and sat in the place of judgment; I
have taken degrees in both the laws, nor is
there that writing which I cannot decipher.”

‘So desiring me to stay for him there, away
he went to the mare, and craved that he might
see and read the price of the foal; to which
the mare consented, and lifting up her hinder
foot, which was newly shod with strong iron
and seven sharp nail heads, as the wolf looked
thereon, she smote him just upon the forehead,
so that she threw him over and over, and he
lay in a dead swoon whilst a man might have
ridden a mile and better, which done, away