Part 14 (1/2)

_Mac._ Would G.o.d 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 thw.a.n.g.[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 G.o.d, I could tell you.

_Mac._ G.o.d look you all three, methought I had seen you.

Ye are a fair company.

_1st Shepherd._ Can ye now moan you?

_2nd Shepherd._ Shrew, j.a.pe![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.