3rd Torturer. There is no man that is alive,
Unless Pilate, as I might thrive
That durst it there have put.
4th Torturer. Go we fast, and let us look
What is written on yon book
And what it may be, mean.
1st Torturer. All the more I look thereon,
All the more I think I fon;[390]
All is not worth a bean.
2nd Torturer. Yes for sooth, methinks I see
Thereon written language three
Hebrew and Latýn
And Greek methinks written thereon,
For it is hard for to expoun.
3rd Torturer. Thou read, by Apollyon!
4th Torturer. Yea, as I am a true knight.
I am the best Latin wright
Of this company;
I will go withouten delay
And tell you what it is to say.
Behold, sirs, verily,
Yonder is written--Jesus of Nazarene
He is King of Jews, I ween.
1st Torturer. Ah, that is written wrong.
2nd Torturer. He calls himself so, but he is none.
3rd Torturer. Go we to Pilate and make our moan,
Have done, and dwell not long. [They go to Pilate.
Pilate, yonder is a false table,
Thereon is written naught but fable,
Of Jews he is not king,
He calls him so, but he not is,
It is falsely written, I wis,
This is a wrong-wise thing.
Pilate. Boys, I say, what melle ye yon?[391]
As it is written shall it be now,
I say certain
Quod scriptum scripsi,[392]
That same wrote I,
What gadlyng[393] grumbles there again.