‘By holy rood, a royal beard!
How say you? we have slept, my lords.
My beard has grown into my lap.’
The barons swore, with many words, 135
’Twas but an after-dinner’s nap.
IV.
‘Pardy,’ return’d the king, ‘but still
My joints are something stiff or so.
My lord, and shall we pass the bill
I mention’d half an hour ago?’ 140