1st Shepherd. For he comes here, hope I.
2nd Shepherd. He will make us both a lie,
But if we beware.
3rd Shepherd. Christ's cross me speed, and Saint Nicholas!
Thereof had I need, it is worse than it was.
Whoso could take heed, and let the world pass,
It is ever in dread and brittle as glass,
And slithers,[100]
This world fared never so,
With marvels mo and mo,[101]
Now in weal, now in woe,
And all things withers.
Was never since Noah's flood such floods seen,
Winds and rains so rude, and storms so keen,
Some stammered, some stood in doubt, as I ween,
Now God turn all to good, I say as I mean,
For ponder.
These floods so they drown
Both in fields and in town,
They bear all down,
And that is a wonder.
We that walk in the nights, our cattle to keep,
We see sudden sights, when other men sleep:
Yet methinks my heart lights, I see shrews peep,
Ye are two, all wights,[102] I will give my sheep
A turn.
But full ill have I meant,
As I walk on this bent,[103]
I may lightly repent,
My toes if I spurn.
Ah, sir, God you save, and master mine!
A drink fain would I have and somewhat to dine.
1st Shepherd. Christ's curs, my knave, thou art a lazy hyne.[104]
2nd Shepherd. What, the boy list rave. Abide until syne[105]
We have made it.
I'll thrift on thy pate!
Though the shrew came late
Yet is he in state
To dine if he had it.
3rd Shepherd. Such servants as I, that sweats and swinks,
Eats our bread full dry, and that me forthinks;
We are oft wet and weary when master men winks,
Yet comes full lately both dinners and drinks,
But neatly.
Both our dame and our sire,
When we have run in the mire,
They can nip at our hire,[106]
And pay us full lately.
But hear my truth, master, for the fare that ye make
I shall do thereafter work, as I take;
I shall do a little, sir, and strive and still lack,
For yet lay my supper never on my stomack
In fields.
Whereto should I threap?[107]
With my staff can I leap,
And men say "light cheap
Letherly for yields."[108]
1st Shepherd. Thou wert an ill lad, to ride on wooing
With a man that had but little of spending.
2nd Shepherd. Peace, boy!--I bade: no more jangling,
Or I shall make thee afraid, by the heaven's king!
With thy gawds;
Where are our sheep, boy, we scorn?
3rd Shepherd. Sir, this same day at morn,
I them left in the corn,
When they rang lauds;
They have pasture good, they cannot go wrong.
1st Shepherd. That is right by the rood, these nights are long,
Yet I would, or we yode,[109] one gave us a song.