_4th Torturer._ Stand near, fellows, and let us see How we can horse our king so free By any craft; Stand thou yonder on yon side, And we shall see how he can ride. And how to wield a shaft. _1st Torturer._ Sir, come ye hither, and have done, And get upon your palfrey soon For he is ready bowne:[291] If ye be bound to him be not wroth, For be ye secure we were full loth On any wise that ye fell down. _2nd Torturer._ Knit thou a knot, with all thy strength For to draw this arm at length Till it come to the bore. _3rd Torturer._ Thou art mad, man, by this light! It wants, in each man's sight Another half span, and more. _4th Torturer._ Yet draw out this arm, and make it fast, With this rope, that well will last, And each man lay hand to. _1st Torturer._ Yes, and bind thou fast that band, We shall go to that other hand, And look what we can do. _2nd Torturer._ Do drive a nail there throughout, And then there shall nothing doubt, For it will not _breste_.[292] _3rd Torturer._ That shall I do, so might I thrive, For to hammer and to drive Thereto I am full pressed; So let it stick, for it is well. _4th Torturer._ Thou sayest sooth, There can no man mend. _1st Torturer._ Hold down his knees. _2nd Torturer._ That shall I do. His nurse did never better do; Lay on with each hand. _3rd Torturer._ Draw out his limbs, let see, have at. _4th Torturer._ That was well drawn out, that, Fair befall him that so pulled! For to have gotten it to the mark I trow laymen nor clerk Nothing better should! _1st Torturer._ Hold it now fast there One of you the bore shall bear, And then it may not fail. _2nd Torturer._ That shall I do withouten dread, As ever might I well speed Him to mickle bale. _3rd Torturer._ So, that is well, it will not brest,[293] But now, let see, who does the best With any sleight of hand. _4th Torturer._ Go we to the other ende Fellows, fasten fast your hende,[294] And pull well at the band. _1st Torturer._ I counsel, fellows, by this weather That we draw now all together, And look how it will fare. _2nd Torturer._ Now let see, and leave your din And draw we ilka syn from syn.[295] For nothing let us spare. _3rd Torturer._ Nay, fellows, this is no play, We no longer draw one way, So mickle have I espied. _4th Torturer._ No, for as I have bliss Some can twig whoso it is Seeks his ease on his own side. _1st Torturer._ It is better, as I hope Each by himself to draw this rope, And then may we see Who it is that erewhile All his fellows can beguile Of this company. _2nd Torturer._ Since thou wilt so have, here's for me! How draw I?--as might thou the![296] _3rd Torturer._ Men drew right well! Have here for me, half a foot. _4th Torturer._ Wema,[297] man! thou came not to't. Men drew it never a deal But have for me here that I may! _1st Torturer._ Well drawnën, son, by this day! Thou goes well to thy work.