_1st Shepherd._ Who is that pipes so poor? _Mac._ Would God ye knew how I fare! Lo, a man that walks on the moor, And has not all his will. _2nd Shepherd._ Mac, where hast thou gone? Tell us tidings. _3rd Shepherd._ Is he come? Then each one take heed to his things. [_Takes his cloak from him._ _Mac._ What, I am a yeoman, I tell you, of the king; The self and the same, sent from a great lording, And sich.[113] Fy on you, get thee hence, Out of my presence, I must have reverence, Why, who be ich?[114] _1st Shepherd._ Why make ye it so quaint? Mac, ye do wrong. _2nd Shepherd._ But, Mac, list, ye saint? I trow that ye sang. _3rd Shepherd._ I trow the shrew can paint, the devil might him hang! _Mac._ I shall make complaint, and make you all to thwang.[115] At a word, And tell even how ye doth. _1st Shepherd._ But, Mac, is that sooth? Now take out that southern tooth, And set in a tord. _2nd Shepherd._ Mac, the devil in your ee,[116] a stroke would I lend you. _3rd Shepherd._ Mac, know ye not me? By God, I could tell you. _Mac._ God look you all three, methought I had seen you. Ye are a fair company. _1st Shepherd._ Can ye now moan you? _2nd Shepherd._ Shrew, jape![117] Thus late as thou goes, What will men suppose? And thou hast an ill noise[118] Of stealing of sheep. _Mac._ And I am true as steel all men wait, But a sickness I feel, that holds me full haytt,[119] My belly fares not well, it is out of its state. _3rd Shepherd._ Seldom lies the devil dead by the gate. _Mac._ Therefore Full sore am I and ill, If I stand stock still; I eat not a nedyll[120] This month and more. _1st Shepherd._ How fares thy wife? By my hood, how fares she? _Mac._ Lies weltering! by the rood! by the fire, lo! And a house full of brood,[121] she drinks well too, Ill speed other good that she will do; But so Eats as fast as she can, And each year that comes to man, She brings forth a lakan,[122] And some years two. But were I not more gracious, and richer by far, I were eaten out of house, and of harbour, Yet is she a foul dowse, if ye come near. There is none that trows, nor knows, a war[123] Than ken I. Now will ye see what I proffer, To give all in my coffer To-morrow next to offer, Her head mass-penný. _2nd Shepherd._ I wot so forwaked[124] is none in this shire: I would sleep if I taked less to my hire. _3rd Shepherd._ I am cold and naked, and would have a fire. _1st Shepherd._ I am weary for-raked,[125] and run in the mire. Wake thou! _2nd Shepherd._ Nay, I will lie down-by, For I must sleep truly. _3rd Shepherd._ As good a man's son was I As any of you. But, Mac, come hither, between us shalt thou lie. _Mac._ Then might I stay you bedene[126]: of that ye would say,-- No dread. From my head to my toe _Mantis tuas commendo, Pontio Pilato._[127] Christ's cross me speed, [_He rises, the shepherds sleeping, and says:_