The sooner I begin, the sooner shall I have done,
For I 'tend to work no longer than none.
Parson.
Marry, John, for that, GOD's blessing on thy heart!
For, surely, some there be, will go to plough and cart;
And set not by, this holy Corpus Christi even.
John.
They are the more to blame, I swear by Saint Stephen!
But tell me, mast[er] Parson, one thing, and you can;
What Saint is Copsi Cursty, a man, or a woman?
Parson.
Why, John! knowest not that? I tell thee, it was a man.
It is Christ His own self, and to-morrow is His day.
We bear Him in procession, and thereby know it ye may.
John.
I know! mast[er] Parson! and nay, by my fay!
But methink it is a mad thing that ye say,
That it should be a man. How can it come to pass?
Because ye may Him bear within so small a glass.