And Father-in-law too
One had to look after,
Or else all his clothes
To redeem from the tavern. 90
In all that one did
There was need to be careful,
Or Mother-in-law's
Superstitions were troubled
(One never could please her).
Well, some superstitions
Of course may be right;
But they're most of them evil.
And one day it happened
That Mother-in-law 100
Murmured low to her husband
That corn which is stolen
Grows faster and better.
So Father-in-law
Stole away after midnight....
It chanced he was caught,
And at daybreak next morning
Brought back and flung down
Like a log in the stable.
"But I acted always 110
As Philip had told me:
I worked, with the anger
Hid deep in my bosom,
And never a murmur
Allowed to escape me.
And then with the winter
Came Philip, and brought me
A pretty silk scarf;
And one feast-day he took me
To drive in the sledges; 120
And quickly my sorrows
Were lost and forgotten:
I sang as in old days
At home, with my father.
For I and my husband
Were both of an age,
And were happy together
When only they left us
Alone, but remember
A husband like Philip 130
Not often is found."
"Do you mean to say
That he never once beat you?"
Matrona was plainly
Confused by the question;
"Once, only, he beat me,"
She said, very low.
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