In a Righteous village, a prisoner-slave in the stocks is
humbled and humiliated by the local, superior populace:
‘Don’t you feel shame, slave? Don’t you feel humiliated –
having to kiss my boots in public in front of my husband and the good townsfolk
of this parish? I am righteous; thou art sin!’
‘Oh pray, mistress, if it pleaseth thee madam, pray
forgive this sinner-slave’s wretchedness madam? I pledge thee my throth as thy
slave, madam.’
‘Kiss the feet of my wife, scurvy knave, and show the abundance
of thy humility and degradation at the feet of thy betters! Gaoler, whip him if
he baulks!’
‘Aye, sir! T’will be my pleasure, good sir! Thy wife’s
boots shall indeed be respected by my wretched charge! He is but a worm
at thy feet, sir!’
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| Righteous life goes on all around the slave as he kisses the boots of his better |
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| ‘Don’t you feel shame, slave? Don’t you feel humiliated – having to kiss my boots in public?' |
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| The wretched slave does indeed feel shame, but knows he must show his slavish respect for the Righteous woman |
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| He is a sinner, and she is pure. Even if her BOOTS are dirty! |
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| He can also espy her Righteous SOCK - again, containing imperfections, but better than him! |
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| And behind the BOOTS of a good woman are the SHOES of a good man... |
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...of her supportive husband!
|
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| ‘Kiss the feet of my wife, scurvy knave, and show the abundance of thy humility and degradation at the feet of thy betters! |
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| The wretched slave must listen to, and obey, the voices of his Righteous betters... |
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| ...as he kisses their Righteous feet under the threat of the WHIP! |
