Now Hear the Words Between The Listener and The Teller: The Listener laughed when he heard all this, "Zounds woman!" said he, "It must be a long tale indeed for such a preamble. Why is it that women have never learnt the art of brevity?"
The Teller said, "We have never learnt it, Sir, for the simple reason that men are so ill equipped to teach it to us."
"'Ware, mi'lady - I may well be the next one called upon to tell a tale, and in it I may not be as kind to women as I might be. Do be 'ware to whom you speak!"
"I shall speak as pleases me, mi'lor - and 'ware yourself! Indeed I shall not now be as kind to the men in my tale as I should otherwise have been. Do not provoke me further."
"Mercy, good woman! Another bolt with such a point will pierce me through!"
"Do you think my tale less than interesting, or your own enjoyment lacking?"
The Listener sighed, "You read me like a book, oh Fairest of Females! On with the tale then, and spare no man!"