"She'll never say nay, but sport and play; O, Bessy to me is the queen of the May; For Margery she is peevish and proud; Come, fiddlers, then, and scrape the crowd." Whilst his merriment passed, after a hoarse noise, like thunder almost spent, the head spoke distinctly, "TIME IS." "Oh ho!" says Miles, "is this all the news you can tell me? Well, copper nose, has my master taken all this pains about you, and you can speak no wiser? Dost thou think I am such a fool to break his sweet slum for this? No, speak wiser, or he shall sleep on. Time is, quotha! Why, I know time is, and that thou shalt hear, goodman kettle jaws. "Time is for some to gain, Time is for some to lose; Time is for some to hand, But then they cannot choose. Time is to go a score, Time is when one should pay: Time is to reckon, too, But few care for that day. Time is to graft the born Upon another's head; Time is to make maids' hearts swell, Oh, then 'tis time they're wed. "Hear'st thou this, goodman copper nose? We scholars know when time is, without thy babbling. We know when time is to drink good sack, eat well, kiss our hostesses, and run on the score. But when time is to pay them is indeed but seldom." While thus he merrily discoursed, about half an hour after the same noise began as before, and the head said, "TIME WAS." "Well," said Miles, "this blockish head is the foolishest thing my wise master ever troubled himself about. How would he have laughed, had he been here, to hear it prat so simply! Therefore, thou brazen-faced ass, speak wiser, or I shall never trouble my head to awake him. Time was, quotha! thou ass thou! I know that, and so thou shalt hear, for I find my master has watched and tutored thee to a fine purpose. "Time was when thou, a kettle, Was wont to hold good matter; But Friar Bacon did thee spoil When he thy sides did batter. Time was when conscience dwelt With men of each vocation; Time was when lawyers did not thrive So well by men's vexations. Time was when charity Was not denied a being; Time was when office kept no knaves; That time was worth the seeing.