Everyman and Other Old Religious Plays, with an Introduction
A >> Anonymous >> Everyman and Other Old Religious Plays, with an Introduction[_Let Abraham sacrifice the ram._
_God._ Abraham, by myself I swear,
For thou hast been obedient ever,
And spared not thy son so dear,
To fulfil my bidding,
Thou shalt be blessed, thou art worthy,
Thy seed I shall multiply,
As stars and sand so many het I,[83]
Of thy body coming.
Of enemies thou shalt have power,
And thy blood also in fear,
For thou has been meek and boneer[84]
To do as I thee bade.
And all nations leave thou me,
Blessed evermore shall be
Through fruit that shall come of thee
And saved through thy seed.
THE EPILOGUE
_Expositor._ Lordings, the signification
Of this deed of devotion,
An you will, it is shewn,
May turn you to much good.
This deed you see done in this place,
In example of Jesus done it was,
That for to win mankind grace
Was sacrificed on the rood.
By Abraham you may understand
The Father of heaven that can fand[85]
With his son's blood to break that band
The devil had brought us to.
By Isaac understand I may
Jesus who was obedient aye,
His father's will to work alway,
His death to undergo.
THE WAKEFIELD SECOND SHEPHERDS' PLAY
CHARACTERS
1st Shepherd
2nd Shepherd
3rd Shepherd
Mac, _the Sheep-stealer_
Mac's Wife, Gill
Mary
The Child Christ
An Angel
THE WAKEFIELD SECOND NATIVITY PLAY
_1st Shepherd._ Lord! what, these weathers are cold, and I am ill happed;
I am near hand-dold,[86] so long have I napped;
My legs bend and fold, my fingers are chapped,
It is not as I would, for I am all lapped
In sorrow.
In storms and tempest,
Now in the east, now in the west,
Woe is him has never rest,
Mid day nor morrow.
But we silly shepherds, that walk upon the moor,
In faith, we are near hands out of the door;
No wonder, as it stands, if we be poor,
For the tilth of our lands lies fallow as the floor,
We are so lamed,
So taxed and shamed,
We are made hand-tamed,
With these gentlery-men.
Thus they rieve us of rest, Our Lady them wary,
These men that are lord-fest,[87] they cause the plough tarry.
That men say is for the best, we find it contrary,
Thus are husbands[88] opprest, in point to miscarry,
In life.
Thus hold they us under,
Thus they bring us in blunder,
It were great wonder,
And ever should we thrive.
For may he get a paint sleeve,[89] or a brooch now on days,
Woe is he that shall grieve, or once again says,
Dare no man him reprieve, what mast'ry he has,
And yet may none believe one word that he says--
No letter.
He can make purveyance,
With boast and bragance,[90]
And all through maintenance,
Of men that are greater.
There shall come a swain, as proud as a po,[91]
He must borrow my wain, my plough also,
Then I am full fain to grant or he go.
Thus live we in pain, anger, and woe,
By night and day;
He must have if he longed
If I should forgang[92] it,
I were better be hanged
Than once say him nay.
It does me good, as I walk thus by mine own,
Of this world for to talk in manner of moan
To my sheep will I stalk and hearken anon
There abide on a balk, or sit on a stone
Full soon.
For I trow, pardie!
True men if they be,
We get more company
Or it be noon.
_2nd Shepherd._ "Beniste"[93] and "Dominus!" what may this bemean?
Why fares this world thus, oft have we not seen.
Lord, these weathers are spitous,[94] and the weather full keen;
And the frost so hideous they water mine een,
No lie.
Now in dry, now in wet,
Now in snow, now in sleet,
When my shoon freeze to my feet
It is not all easy.
But as far as I ken, or yet as I go,
We silly wed-men dree mickle woe;[95]
We have sorrow then and then, it falls often so,
Silly capyl, our hen, both to and fro
She cackles,
But begin she to croak,
To groan or to cluck,
Woe is him, say of our cock,
For he is in the shackles.
These men that are wed, have not all their will,
When they are full hard sted,[96] they sigh full still;
God wait they are led full hard and full ill,
In bower nor in bed they say not there till
This tide.
My part have I found,
My lesson is learn'd,
Woe is him that is bound,
For he must abide.
But now late in our lives, a marvel to me,
That I think my heart rives,[97] such wonders to see,
What that destiny drives it should so be,
Some men will have two wives, and some men three,
In store.
Some are woe that have any;
But so far ken I,
Woe is he who has many,
For he feels it sore.
But young men of wooing, for God that you bought,
Be well ware of wedding, and think in your thought
"Had I wist" is a thing it serves ye of nought;
Mickle still mourning has wedding home brought,
And griefs,
With many a sharp shower,
For thou may catch in an hour
That shall serve thee full sour
As long as thou lives.
For as read I epistle, I have one to my fear
As sharp as a thistle, as rough as a brere.[98]
She is browed like a bristle with a sour lenten cheer;
Had she once wet her whistle she could sing full clear
Her pater-noster.
She is as great as a whale,
She has a gallon of gall;
By him that died for us all!
I would I had run till I lost her.
_1st Shepherd._ God look over the row, full deafly ye stand.
_2nd Shepherd._ Yea, the devil in thy maw!--so tariand,[99]
Saw thou aught now of Daw?
_1st Shepherd._ Yea, on a lea land
Heard I him blow, he comes here at hand,
Not far;
Stand still.
_2nd Shepherd._ Why?
_1st Shepherd._ For he comes here, hope I.
_2nd Shepherd._ He will make us both a lie,
But if we beware.
_3rd Shepherd._ Christ's cross me speed, and Saint Nicholas!
Thereof had I need, it is worse than it was.
Whoso could take heed, and let the world pass,
It is ever in dread and brittle as glass,
And slithers,[100]
This world fared never so,
With marvels mo and mo,[101]
Now in weal, now in woe,
And all things withers.
Was never since Noah's flood such floods seen,
Winds and rains so rude, and storms so keen,
Some stammered, some stood in doubt, as I ween,
Now God turn all to good, I say as I mean,
For ponder.
These floods so they drown
Both in fields and in town,
They bear all down,
And that is a wonder.
We that walk in the nights, our cattle to keep,
We see sudden sights, when other men sleep:
Yet methinks my heart lights, I see shrews peep,
Ye are two, all wights,[102] I will give my sheep
A turn.
But full ill have I meant,
As I walk on this bent,[103]
I may lightly repent,
My toes if I spurn.
Ah, sir, God you save, and master mine!
A drink fain would I have and somewhat to dine.
_1st Shepherd._ Christ's curs, my knave, thou art a lazy hyne.[104]
_2nd Shepherd._ What, the boy list rave. Abide until syne[105]
We have made it.
I'll thrift on thy pate!
Though the shrew came late
Yet is he in state
To dine if he had it.
_3rd Shepherd._ Such servants as I, that sweats and swinks,
Eats our bread full dry, and that me forthinks;
We are oft wet and weary when master men winks,
Yet comes full lately both dinners and drinks,
But neatly.
Both our dame and our sire,
When we have run in the mire,
They can nip at our hire,[106]
And pay us full lately.
But hear my truth, master, for the fare that ye make
I shall do thereafter work, as I take;
I shall do a little, sir, and strive and still lack,
For yet lay my supper never on my stomack
In fields.
Whereto should I threap?[107]
With my staff can I leap,
And men say "light cheap
Letherly for yields."[108]
_1st Shepherd._ Thou wert an ill lad, to ride on wooing
With a man that had but little of spending.
_2nd Shepherd._ Peace, boy!--I bade: no more jangling,
Or I shall make thee afraid, by the heaven's king!
With thy gawds;
Where are our sheep, boy, we scorn?
_3rd Shepherd._ Sir, this same day at morn,
I them left in the corn,
When they rang lauds;
They have pasture good, they cannot go wrong.
_1st Shepherd._ That is right by the rood, these nights are long,
Yet I would, or we yode,[109] one gave us a song.
_2nd Shepherd._ So I thought as I stood, to mirth us among.[110]
_3rd Shepherd._ I grant.
_1st Shepherd._ Let me sing the tenory.
_2nd Shepherd._ And I the treble so high.
_3rd Shepherd._ Then the mean falls to me;
Let see how ye chaunt.
[_Mac enters, with a cloak thrown over his smock._
_Mac._ Now, Lord, for thy names seven, that made both moon and starns[111]
Well more than I can even: thy will, Lord, of my thorns;
I am all uneven, that moves oft my horns,[112]
Now would God I were in heaven, for there weep no bairns
So still.
_1st Shepherd._ Who is that pipes so poor?
_Mac._ Would God ye knew how I fare!
Lo, a man that walks on the moor,
And has not all his will.
_2nd Shepherd._ Mac, where hast thou gone? Tell us tidings.
_3rd Shepherd._ Is he come? Then each one take heed to his things.
[_Takes his cloak from him._
_Mac._ What, I am a yeoman, I tell you, of the king;
The self and the same, sent from a great lording,
And sich.[113]
Fy on you, get thee hence,
Out of my presence,
I must have reverence,
Why, who be ich?[114]
_1st Shepherd._ Why make ye it so quaint? Mac, ye do wrong.
_2nd Shepherd._ But, Mac, list, ye saint? I trow that ye sang.
_3rd Shepherd._ I trow the shrew can paint, the devil might him hang!
_Mac._ I shall make complaint, and make you all to thwang.[115]
At a word,
And tell even how ye doth.
_1st Shepherd._ But, Mac, is that sooth?
Now take out that southern tooth,
And set in a tord.
_2nd Shepherd._ Mac, the devil in your ee,[116] a stroke would I lend you.
_3rd Shepherd._ Mac, know ye not me? By God, I could tell you.
_Mac._ God look you all three, methought I had seen you.
Ye are a fair company.
_1st Shepherd._ Can ye now moan you?
_2nd Shepherd._ Shrew, jape![117]
Thus late as thou goes,
What will men suppose?
And thou hast an ill noise[118]
Of stealing of sheep.
_Mac._ And I am true as steel all men wait,
But a sickness I feel, that holds me full haytt,[119]
My belly fares not well, it is out of its state.
_3rd Shepherd._ Seldom lies the devil dead by the gate.
_Mac._ Therefore
Full sore am I and ill,
If I stand stock still;
I eat not a nedyll[120]
This month and more.
_1st Shepherd._ How fares thy wife? By my hood, how fares she?
_Mac._ Lies weltering! by the rood! by the fire, lo!
And a house full of brood,[121] she drinks well too,
Ill speed other good that she will do;
But so
Eats as fast as she can,
And each year that comes to man,
She brings forth a lakan,[122]
And some years two.
But were I not more gracious, and richer by far,
I were eaten out of house, and of harbour,
Yet is she a foul dowse, if ye come near.
There is none that trows, nor knows, a war[123]
Than ken I.
Now will ye see what I proffer,
To give all in my coffer
To-morrow next to offer,
Her head mass-penny.
_2nd Shepherd._ I wot so forwaked[124] is none in this shire:
I would sleep if I taked less to my hire.
_3rd Shepherd._ I am cold and naked, and would have a fire.
_1st Shepherd._ I am weary for-raked,[125] and run in the mire.
Wake thou!
_2nd Shepherd._ Nay, I will lie down-by,
For I must sleep truly.
_3rd Shepherd._ As good a man's son was I
As any of you.
But, Mac, come hither, between us shalt thou lie.
_Mac._ Then might I stay you bedene[126]: of that ye would say,--
No dread.
From my head to my toe
_Mantis tuas commendo,
Pontio Pilato._[127]
Christ's cross me speed,
[_He rises, the shepherds sleeping, and says:_
Now were time for a man, that lacks what he wold,
To stalk privately then into a fold,
And namely to work then, and be not too bold,
He might abide the bargain, if it were told
At the ending.
Now were time for to revel;
But he needs good counsel
That fain would fare well,
And has but little spending.
[_Mac works a spell on them._
But about you a circle, as round as a moon,
Till I have done that I will, till that it be noon,
That ye lie stone-still, till that I have done,
And I shall say there till of good words a foyn[128]
On height;
Over your heads my hand I lift,
Out go your eyes, fore to do your sight,
But yet I must make better shift,
And it be right.
What, Lord? they sleep hard! that may ye all hear;
Was I never a shepherd, but now will I leer[129]
If the flock be scared, yet shall I nap near,
Who draws hitherward, now mends our cheer,
From sorrow:
A fat sheep I dare say,
A good fleece dare I lay,
Eft white when I may,
But this will I borrow.
[_He steals a sheep and goes home._
_Mac_ (_at his own door_). How, Gill, art thou in? Get us some light.
_His Wife._ Who makes such din this time of night?
I am set for to spin: I hope not I might
Rise a penny to win: I shrew them on height.
So fares
A housewife that has been
To be raised thus between:
There may no note be seen
For such small chares.[130]
_Mac._ Good wife, open the hek.[131] See'st thou not what I bring?
_Wife._ I may let thee draw the sneck. Ah! come in, my sweeting.
_Mac._ Yea, thou dost not reck of my long standing.
_Wife._ By thy naked neck, thou art like for to hang.
_Mac._ Go away:
I am worthy of my meat,
For in a strait can I get
More than they that swinck[132] and sweat
All the long day,
Thus it fell to my lot, Gill, I had such grace.
_Wife._ It were a foul blot to be hanged for the case.
_Mac._ I have scaped, Jelott, oft as hard as glass.
_Wife._ "But so long goes the pot to the water," men says,
"At last comes it home broken."
_Mac._ Well know I the token,
But let it never be spoken;
But come and help fast.
I would he were flayn;[133] I list we'll eat:
This twelvemonth was I not so fain of one sheep-meat.
_Wife._ Come they if he be slain, and hear the sheep bleat?
_Mac._ Then might I be ta'en: that were a cold sweat.
Go bar
The gate door.
_Wife._ Yes, Mac,
For and they come at thy back.
_Mac._ Then might I pay for all the pack:
The devil of them war![134]
_Wife._ A good bowrde[135] have I spied, since thou can none:
Here shall we him hide, till they be gone;
In my cradle abide. Let me alone,
And I shall lie beside in childbed and groan.
_Mac._ Thou red?[136]
And I shall say thou wast light
Of a knave child this night.
_Wife._ Now well is my day bright,
That ever I was bred.
This is a good guise and a far cast;
Yet a woman's advice helps at the last.
I care never who spies: again go thou fast.
_Mac._ But I come or they rise; else blows a cold blast--
I will go sleep. [_Mac goes back to the field._
Yet sleep all this menye,[137]
And I shall go stalk privily,
As it had never been I
That carried their sheep.
_1st Shepherd._ _Resurrex a mortrius_: have hold my hand.
_Judas carnas dominus_, I may not well stand:
My foot sleeps, by Jesus, and I water fastand!
I thought that we laid us full near England.
_2nd Shepherd._ Ah ye!
Lord, how I have slept weel!
As fresh as an eel,
As light I me feel
As leaf on a tree.
_3rd Shepherd._ Benste![138] be herein! So my head quakes
My heart is out of skin, what so it makes.
Who makes all this din? So my brow aches,
To the door will I win. Hark fellows, wakes!
We were four:
See ye anything of Mac now?
_1st Shepherd._ We were up ere thou.
_2nd Shepherd._ Man, I give God a vow,
Yet heed he nowhere.
_3rd Shepherd._ Methought he was wrapped in a wolf's-skin.
_1st Shepherd._ So are many happed, now namely within.
_2nd Shepherd._ When we had long napped; methought with a gin
A fat sheep he trapped, but he made no din.
_3rd Shepherd._ Be still:
Thy dream makes thee wood:[139]
It is but phantom, by the rood.
_1st Shepherd._ Now God turn all to good,
If it be his will.
_2nd Shepherd._ Rise, Mac, for shame! thou ly'st right long.
_Mac._ Now Christ, his holy name be us amang,
What is this? for Saint James!--I may not well gang.
I trust I be the same. Ah! my neck has lain wrang
Enough
Mickle thank, since yester-even
Now, by Saint Stephen!
I was flayed with a sweven,--[140]
My heart out of slough.[141]
I thought Gill began to croak, and travail full sad,
Well nigh at the first cock,--of a young lad,
For to mend our flock: then be I never glad.
To have two on my rock,--more than ever I had.
Ah, my head!
A house full of young tharmes,[142]
The devil knock out their harnes![143]
Woe is he has many bairns,
And thereto little bread.
I must go home, by your leave, to Gill as I thought.
I pray you look my sleeve, that I steal nought:
I am loth you to grieve, or from you take aught.
_3rd Shepherd._ Go forth, ill might thou chefe,[144] now would I we sought,
This morn,
That we had all our store.
_1st Shepherd._ But I will go before,
Let us meet.
_2nd Shepherd._ Whor?[145]
_3rd Shepherd._ At the crooked thorn.
_Mac (at his own door again)._ Undo this door! who is here? How long shall
I stand?
_Wife._ Who makes such a stir?--Now walk in the wenyand.[146]
_Mac._ Ah, Gill, what cheer?--It is I, Mac, your husband.
_His Wife._ Then may we be here,--the devil in a band,
Sir Gile.
Lo, he commys[147] with a lot,
As he were holden in the throat.
I may not sit, work or not
A hand long while.
_Mac._ Will ye hear what fare she makes--to get her a glose,[148]
And do naught but lakes[149]--and close her toes.
_Wife._ Why, who wanders, who wakes,--who comes, who goes?
Who brews, who bakes? Who makes for me this hose?
And then
It is ruth to behold,
Now in hot, now in cold,
Full woful is the household
That wants a woman.
But what end hast thou made with the herds, Mac?
_Mac._ The last word that they said,--when I turned my back,
They would look that they had--their sheep all the pack.
I hope they will not be well paid,--when they their sheep lack.
Perdie!
But howso the game goes,
To me they will suppose,
And make a foul noise,
And cry out upon me.
But thou must do as thou hight,
_Wife._ I accord me thertylle.[150]
I shall swaddle him right in my cradle.
If it were a greater slight, yet could I help till.
I will lie down straight. Come hap me.
_Mac._ I will.
_Wife._ Behind,
Come Coll and his marrow,
They will nip us full narrow.
_Mac._ But I may cry out "Harro!"[151]
The sheep if they find.
_Wife._ Hearken aye when they call: they will come anon.
Come and make ready all, and sing by thine own,
Sing "Lullay!" thou shall, for I must groan,
And cry out by the wall on Mary and John,
For sore.
Sing "Lullay" full fast
When thou hears at the last;
And but I play a false cast
Trust me no more.
[_Re-enter the Three Shepherds._]
_3rd Shepherd._ Ah, Coll! good morn:--why sleepest thou not?
_1st Shepherd._ Alas, that ever was I born!--we have a foul blot.
A fat wether have we lorne.[152]
_3rd Shepherd._ Marry, Godys forbot![153]
_2nd Shepherd._ Who should do us that scorn? That were a foul spot.
_1st Shepherd._ Some shrew.
I have sought with my dogs,
All Horbery shrogs,[154]
And of fifteen hogs
Found I but one ewe.
_3rd Shepherd._ Now trust me if you will;--by Saint Thomas of Kent!
Either Mac or Gill--was at that assent.
_1st Shepherd._ Peace, man, be still;--I saw when he went.
Thou slander'st him ill; thou ought to repent.
Good speed.
_2nd Shepherd._ Now as ever might I thee,
If I should even here dee,[155]
I would say it were he,
That did that same deed.
_3rd Shepherd._ Go we thither I rede,[156]--and run on our feet.
May I never eat bread,--the truth till I wit.
_1st Shepherd._ Nor drink, in my heed,--with him till I meet.
_2nd Shepherd._ I will rest in no stead, till that I him greet,
My brother
One I will hight:[157]
Till I see him in sight
Shall I never sleep one night
There I do another.
_3rd Shepherd._ Will ye hear how they hack,[158]--Our Sire! list, how they
croon!
_1st Shepherd._ Hard I never none crack,--so clear out of tune.
Call on him.
_2nd Shepherd._ Mac! undo your door soon.
_Mac._ Who is it that spoke,--as it were noon?
On loft,
Who is that I say?
_3rd Shepherd._ Good fellows! were it day?
_Mac._ As far as ye may,--
Good, speak ye soft!
Over a sick woman's head,--that is ill mate ease,
I had liefer be dead,--or she had any disease.
_Wife._ Go to another stead; I may not well queasse[159]
Each foot that ye tread--goes near make me sneeze[160]
So he!
_1st Shepherd._ Tell us, Mac, if ye may,
How fare ye, I say?
_Mac._ But are ye in this town to-day?
Now how fare ye?
Ye have run in the mire, and are wet yit:
I shall make you a fire, if ye will sit.
A horse would I hire; think ye on it.
Well quit is my hire, my dream--this is it.
A season.
I have bairns if ye knew,
Well more than enew,[161]
But we must drink as we brew,
And that is but reason.
I would ye dined e'er ye yode:[162] methink that ye sweat.
_2nd Shepherd._ Nay, neither mends our mode, drink nor meat.
_Mac._ Why, sir, ails you aught, but good?
_3rd Shepherd._ Yes, our sheep that we gat,
Are stolen as they yode.[163] Our loss is great.
_Mac._ Sirs, drinkys!
Had I been there,
Some should have bought it full dear.
_1st Shepherd._ Marry, some men trows that ye were,
And that us forethinkys.[164]
_2nd Shepherd._ Mac, some men trows that it should be ye.
_3rd Shepherd._ Either ye or your spouse; so say we.
_Mac._ Now if ye have suspouse[165] to Gill or to me,
Come and rip our house, and then may ye see
Who had her.
If I any sheep got,
Either cow or stot,
And Gill, my wife rose not
Here since she laid her.
As I am both true and leal, to God here I pray,
That this be the first meal, I shall eat this day.
_1st Shepherd._ Mac, as I have weal, arise thee, I say!
"He learned timely to steal, that could not say nay."
_Wife._ I swelt.[166]
Out thieves from my once!
Ye come to rob us for the nonce.
_Mac._ Hear ye not how she groans?
Your heart should melt.
_Wife._ Out thieves, from my bairn! Nigh him not thore.
_Mac._ Knew ye how she had farne,[167] your hearts would be sore.
Ye do wrong, I you warn, that thus commys before
To a woman that has farn;[168] but I say no more.
_Wife._ Ah, my middle!
I pray to God so mild,
If ever I you beguiled,
That I eat this child,
That lies in this cradle.
_Mac._ Peace, woman, for God's pain, and cry not so:
Thou spill'st thy brain, and mak'st me full woe.
_2nd Shepherd._ I know our sheep be slain, what find ye too?
_3rd Shepherd._ All work we in vain: as well may we go.
But hatters.[169]
I can find no flesh,
Hard nor nesh,[170]
Salt nor fresh,
But two tome[171] platters:
No cattle but this, tame nor wild,
None, as have I bliss; as loud as he smiled.
_Wife._ No, so God me bliss, and give me joy of my child.
_1st Shepherd._ We have marked amiss: I hold us beguiled.
_2nd Shepherd._ Sir, done!
Sir, our lady him save,
Is your child a knave?[172]
_Mac._ Any lord might him have
This child to his son.
When he wakens he skips, that joy is to see.
_3rd Shepherd._ In good time, be his steps, and happy they be!
But who was his gossips, tell now to me!
_Mac._ So fair fall their lips!
_1st Shepherd (aside)._ Hark now, a lee![173]
_Mac._ So God them thank,
Parkin, and Gibbon Waller, I say,
And gentle John Horne, in good fay,[174]
He made all the garray,[175]
With the great shank.
_2nd Shepherd._ Mac, friends will we be, for we are all one.
_Mac._ Why! now I hold for me, for help get I none.
Farewell all three: all glad were ye gone.
_3rd Shepherd._ Fair words may there be, but love there is none.
_1st Shepherd._ Gave ye the child anything?
_2nd Shepherd._ I trust not one farthing.
_3rd Shepherd._ Fast again will I fling,
Abide ye me there. [_He returns to Mac's cot._
Mac, take it to no grief, if I come to thy barn.
_Mac._ Nay, thou dost me great reprieve, and foul hast thou farne.[176]
_3rd Shepherd._ The child will it not grieve, that little day starn.[177]
Mac, with your leave, let me give your bairn,
But sixpence.
_Mac._ Nay, go 'way: he sleepys.
_3rd Shepherd._ Methink he peepys.
_Mac._ When he wakens he weepys.
I pray you go hence.
_3rd Shepherd._ Give me leave him to kiss, and lift up the clout.
What the devil is this? He has a long snout.
_1st Shepherd._ He is marked amiss. We wait ill about.
_2nd Shepherd._ Ill spun weft, I wis, aye cometh foul out;
Aye so;
He is like to our sheep.
_3rd Shepherd._ How, Gib, may I peep?
_1st Shepherd._ I trow, kind will creep,
Where it may not go.
_2nd Shepherd._ This was a quaint gaud,[178] and a far cast
It was a high fraud.
_3rd Shepherd._ Yea, sirs, was't.
Let burn this bawd and bind her fast.
A false skawd[179] hangs at the last;
So shall thou.
Will ye see how they swaddle
His four feet in the middle?
Saw I never in a cradle
A horned lad e'er now.
_Mac._ Peace bid I: what! let be your fare;
I am he that him gat, and yond woman him bare.
_1st Shepherd._ What devil shall he halt?[180] Mac, lo, God makes air.
_2nd Shepherd._ Let be all that. Now God give him care!
I sagh.[181]
_Wife._ A pretty child is he,
As sits upon a woman's knee;
A dylly-downe, perdie!
To make a man laugh.
_3rd Shepherd._ I know him by the ear mark:--that is a good token.
_Mac._ I tell you, sirs, hark:--his nose was broken.
Since then, told me a clerk,--that he was forespoken.[182]