MILES.
O Jupiter Lord, dost thou not see and hear,
How he feareth the snail, as it were a bear!
THERSITES.
Well, with my club I have had good luck;
Now with my sword have at thee a pluck!
[And he must cast his club away.
I will make thee, ere I go, for to duck,
And thou were as tall a man as Friar Tuck.
I say yet again, thy horns in draw,
Or else I will make thee to have wounds raw.
Art thou not afeard
To have thy beard
Pared with my sword?
[Here he must fight then with his sword against the snail, and the snail draweth her horns in.
Ah well, now no more:
Thou mightest have done so before.
I laid at it so sore,
That it thought it should have be lore[596]
And it had not drawn in his horns again,
Surely I would the monster have slain.
But now, farewell, I will work thee no more pain.
Now my fume is past,
And doth no longer last,
That I did to the monster cast.
Now in other countries both far and near
Mo deeds of chivalry I will go inquire.
MILES.
Thou needst not seek any further, for ready I am here:
I will debate anon, I trow, thy bragging cheer.