And if of those, spotted ones came,
Those should be taken for hire (wages).
Sheep or goat, speckled, streaked, or gray,
Are placed from Jacob far away;
Nevertheless those of one colour
Bore many unlike and dissimilar.
P. 50. l. [1723] haswed = haswe, "livid, a sad colour mixed with blue." It also signifies rugged, shaggy. [1726] vn-like = unlike in colour. It may be, however, an error for on-like = alike; likeles, unlike, dissimilar in form. [1729] ðe sunder bles, the diverse coloured ones. [1736] To be under him longer is displeasing to him. [1740] clipping time, shearing time. See Allit. Poems, A. 802. [1747] for-olen = for-holen, secreted.
P. 51. l. [1758]
ðus meðelike spac ðis em,
thus kindly (mildly) spake this uncle.