And oft did I beguile them of their pence,
When I did speak of some distressful stroke
Which his youth suffered. My story being done,
The judge and jury heeded not my sighs;
They said in faith, ’twas strange, ’twas passing strange,
’Twas pitiful, ’twas wondrous pitiful;
They wished they had not said it; yea they wished
That they had never heard the Claimant’s name,
And bade me, if I had a foe I hated,
Go tell him the everlasting story,