XVI
‘O woe is me,’ said the master then,
‘This day that ever I was borne!
For all our fish we have got to-day
Is every bit lost and forlorne[1019].
XVII
‘For your French robbers on the sea,
They will not spare of us one man,
But carry us to the coast of France,
And ligge us in the prison strong.’
XVIII
But Simon said, ‘Doe not feare them,
Neither, master, take you no care;
Give me my bent bow in my hand,
And never a Frenchman will I spare.’—
XIX
‘Hold thy peace, thou long lubber,
For thou art nought but braggs and boast;
If I should cast thee over-board,
There were nothing but a lubber lost.’
XX
Simon grew angry at these words,
And so angry then was he
That he tooke his bent bow in his hand,
And to the ship-hatch goeth he.