3rd Shepherd. Benste![138] be herein! So my head quakes
My heart is out of skin, what so it makes.
Who makes all this din? So my brow aches,
To the door will I win. Hark fellows, wakes!
We were four:
See ye anything of Mac now?
1st Shepherd. We were up ere thou.
2nd Shepherd. Man, I give God a vow,
Yet heed he nowhere.
3rd Shepherd. Methought he was wrapped in a wolf's-skin.
1st Shepherd. So are many happed, now namely within.
2nd Shepherd. When we had long napped; methought with a gin
A fat sheep he trapped, but he made no din.
3rd Shepherd. Be still:
Thy dream makes thee wood:[139]
It is but phantom, by the rood.
1st Shepherd. Now God turn all to good,
If it be his will.
2nd Shepherd. Rise, Mac, for shame! thou ly'st right long.
Mac. Now Christ, his holy name be us amang,
What is this? for Saint James!--I may not well gang.
I trust I be the same. Ah! my neck has lain wrang
Enough
Mickle thank, since yester-even
Now, by Saint Stephen!
I was flayed with a sweven,--[140]
My heart out of slough.[141]
I thought Gill began to croak, and travail full sad,
Well nigh at the first cock,--of a young lad,
For to mend our flock: then be I never glad.
To have two on my rock,--more than ever I had.
Ah, my head!
A house full of young tharmes,[142]
The devil knock out their harnes![143]
Woe is he has many bairns,
And thereto little bread.
I must go home, by your leave, to Gill as I thought.
I pray you look my sleeve, that I steal nought:
I am loth you to grieve, or from you take aught.