_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.

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 ma.s.s-penn.

_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. .h.i.therward, 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.