Here we see a medieval couple tormenting a prisoner-slave in
the public pillory. The fair lady is asking the slave about his preferred
punishment. Would he like to be excoriated with her sharp iron HOOK? Or whipped courtesy
of her husband’s long leather WHIP?
The pathetic prisoner most humbly indicates that he would
prefer the hook, begging the fair mistress’s pardon and understanding madam? He
is no doubt thinking that such a fair lady would be more likely to show him
mercy than her somewhat demonic-looking husband? But I wouldn’t be so sure about that!
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| 'What willest thou, slave? The excoriating HOOK, courtesy of my fair hand? Or my husband's stinging WHIP?' |
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| 'Oh prithee, mistress madam, if it pleaseth thee good lady madam, this slave chooseth the HOOK, madam?' |
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| Her husband chortles, for he knows his wife's rusty, iron HOOK can cause a slave much more pain even than his WHIP! |
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| The priest-sir knows it too! |
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| The stupid, ignorant slave should have chosen the WHIP! |
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| 'He hee...He hee...' |
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| The master-sir's BOOTS |
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| The mistress-madam's WINKLEPICKERS |
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| 'Behold, the knave hath chosen, mistress Guinevere. Flay him with thine hook!', exhorts the priest-sir |
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| 'M...mercy...m...mistress Guinevere m...madam!' |
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| Sounds like the scurvy knave is already beginning to have second thoughts about his choice of punishment implement? |
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| I'll wager he wishes he could kneel down and kiss his would-be excoriator's pointy SHOES? |
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| 'Haha, very well, slave! The HOOK it shall be!... |
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| ...Prepare thyself for excoriating PAIN!' |
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| 'Oh p...pray, m... madam! M... mercy, m... madam!' |
