XXIII
The child said, ‘What shall be my name?
Prithee, good Steward, tell to me.’—
‘Thy name shall be Poor Disaware,
To tend sheep on a lonely lee.’
XXIV
The child came to the shepherd’s house—
O Lord! he weepèd pitifullye—
Says, ‘Do you not want a servant-boy,
To tend your sheep on a lonely lee?’
XXV
‘I have no child,’ the shepherd said,
‘My boy, thou’st tarry and dwell with me;
My living, my house, but and my goods,
I’ll make thee heir of them all, perdie.’
XXVI
And then bespake the shepherd’s wife
Unto the child so tenderlye:
‘Thou must take the sheep and go to the field,
And tend them upon the lonely lee.’
XXVII
Now let us leave talk of the child
That is tending sheep on the lonely lee,
And we’ll talk more of the false steward,
Of him and of his treacherye.