Good Robin speer’d how they had sped.[269]

They answered him, Full ill.

That can not be, good Robin says,

Ye have been at the mill.

The mill it is a meat-rife part,

They may lick what they please,

Most like ye have been at the art,

Who would look at your ‘claiths.’ [270]

They hang’d their heads, they drooped down,

A word they could not speak.