“Nay, thou wilt not trap me again. It biteth, thy coynte. My yard hath long been ill. ‘Tis scarce cured yet.”
“Thou ravest!” answered she. “At that time I did but play with thee. Have no fear now. Make trial of this dear little thing[96] of mine. Thou wilt be enchanted with it.”
And desire took the youth, and he tucked up his robe, saying:
“Wait—I am about to bind thy legs, and if thy coynte biteth, I shall be able to leap to earth and save myself.”
He let go of the reins and bound the two naked thighs of his young wife. His instrument was now of sufficient magnitude. When he rammed the girl, she cried with a loud voice; the horse, which was young, took fright and began to run away; the sleigh was thrown from side to side; the peasant fell out; and his young wife, her thighs naked, was dragged into the courtyard of the mother-in-law.
The mother-in-law gazed through the window; she perceived the horse of her son-in-law, and was assured that he brought her some viands for the feast; she went to meet him and found—her daughter!
“Ah! little mother!” cried the latter. “Unbind me swiftly ere any see me.”
The old woman unbound her and asked what it signified.
“And thy husband, where is he?” she demanded.
“The horse threw him into the road.”