She failed not, for that night she lay in her usual place, and her husband took up his old quarters, and made no further advances than he had on the previous nights. So she turned towards him, and throwing her arms round him, said;
“Come here husband! Is this the pleasant time I was to expect? This is the fifth night I have slept with you, and you have not deigned to come near me! On my word I should never have wished to be married if I had not thought married people did something else.”
“And what did they tell you married people did?” he asked.
“They say,” she replied, “that the one rides the other. I want you to ride me.”
“Ride!” he said. “I would not like to do that.—I would not be so unkind.”
“Oh, I beg of you to do it—for that is what married people do.”
“You want me to do it?” he asked.
“I beg of you to do it,” she said, and so saying she kissed him tenderly.
“By my oath!” he said, “I will do it, since you ask me to though much to my regret, for I am sure that you will not like it.”
Without saying another word he took his stock of rods, and stripped his wife, and thrashed her soundly, back and belly, legs and thighs, till she was bathed in blood. She screamed, she cried, she struggled, and it was piteous to see her, and she cursed the moment that she had ever asked to be ridden.