Pilate. Welcome, Joseph, might thou be,
What so thou askest, I grant it thee
So that it be skill.[409]
Joseph. For my long service, I thee pray,
Grant me the body, say me not nay
Of Jesus dead on rood.
Pilate. I grant it well if he dead be,
Good leave shalt thou have of me.
Do with him what thou think good.
Joseph. Gramercy, sir, of your good grace
That you did grant me in this place.
Go we our way:
Nicodeme, come me forth with,
For I myself shall be the smith
The nails out for to dray.[410]
Nicodemus. Joseph, I am ready here
To go with thee with full good cheer
To help with all my might.
Pull forth the nails on either side
And I shall hold him up this tide;
Ah, Lord, how art thou dight!
[They take down the body.
Joseph. Help now, fellow, with all thy might,
That he be wounden[411] and well dight,
And lay him on this bier:
Bear we him forth into the kirk
To the tomb that I gar'd[412] work
Since full many a year.
Nicodemus. It shall be so, withouten nay,
He that died on Good Friday,
And crownèd was with thorn;
Save you all that now here be
That Lord that thus would dee,
And rose on Paschë[413] morn.