"For if thou doe, like murderer
Thou here shalt hanged be:
Likewise of flesh see that thou cut
No more than longes to thee. 40
"For if thou take either more or lesse,
To the value of a mite,
Thou shalt be hanged presently,
As is both law and right."
Gernutus now waxt franticke mad, 45
And wotes not what to say;
Quoth he at last, "Ten thousand crownes
I will that he shall pay;
"And so I graunt to set him free."
The judge doth answere make; 50
"You shall not have a penny given;
Your forfeyture now take."
At the last he doth demaund
But for to have his owne:
"No," quoth the judge, "doe as you list, 55
Thy judgement shall be showne.
"Either take your pound of flesh," quoth he,
"Or cancell me your bond:"
"O cruell judge," then quoth the Jew,
"That doth against me stand!" 60
And so with [griping] grieved mind
He biddeth them fare-well:
Then all the people prays'd the Lord,
That ever this heard tell.
Good people, that doe heare this song, 65
For trueth I dare well say,
That many a wretch as ill as hee
Doth live now at this day;
That seeketh nothing but the spoyle
Of many a wealthy man, 70
And for to trap the innocent
Deviseth what they can.
From whome the Lord deliver me,
And every Christian too,
And send to them like sentence eke 75
That meaneth so to do.