_Idle._ Shall I go with you also? C1,_r._ _Evil C._ Yea, sir, and it please you so to do. How say you? Have not they merry lives That may kiss and bass other men's wives. Lo! youth is full of jollity. But when saw you your brother Sensuality? _Idle._ Sir, I left him on the plain of Salisbury. He told me that he would lift Some good fellow from his thrift; And as I trow somewhat he will get To make with the penny. Many one for their good do labour and sweat; But he doth not so; he getteth it lightly. _Evil C._ Sir, he did me a shrewd turn, as I you tell. _Idle._ I pray thee show me how it befel. _Evil C._ The last day, sir, I wist The puttock that he ware on his fist Would have trod my hen, And up I caught a rottock And hit him on the buttock That there lay in a thenne. _Idle._ Whereby knowest thou that it was he? _Evil C._ For he had a bell about his cue, And thereby each him knew. I bid him hold in the wind, C1,_v._ Till at the last he had his mind; God give him an ill pew. _Idle._ And what meat did thou give him? Say on hardely! _Evil C._ Sir, a fair piece of bacon, And a black bowl full of barley. _Idle._ By Jesu, this is a gentle meat for a hawk; To keep birds thou art very conning. Thy thrift, I trow, is laid a sonninge; But tell me now where is thy wonning? _Evil C._ Sir, at the stews is my most abiding; Otherwise going and sometime riding; And if the ground be slipper and sliding, In faith I fall down mosellinge. _Idle._ What, some pleasure then there appears; Beshrew your head between your ears! _Evil C._ Nay, sir, it shall be yours and theirs; For when a man hath enow Let him part with his neighbours. _Idle._ It is thy destiny, I trow, For to be clad all in briars, And ride the horse with four ears. _Evil C._ Nay, sir, not afore you For I love ill to waiter; C2,_r._ A ride in a saddle, but ye shall ride in a halter. _Idle._ In good faith, knave, thou shalt bear me a stripe. _Evil C._ And thou shalt have another an I can hit thee aright. _Idle._ Why smitest thou not? Come off! _Evil C._ Nay, I trow ye do but scoff. But I would not for an hundred pound fight with thee. _Idle._ Why so? Tell me! _Evil C._ For I never fought with man but he died; And so should you and ye did my strokes abide. _Idle._ Marry, I had liever thou were tied; Thou art as manly as ill chieving; Thou were a good bold fellow to go a thieving. _Evil C._ Well, let us go to Unthrift's a while hence, And let some other keep residence; For I dare lay thereon forty pence We shall have a sermon or night. _Idle._ I trow then he will come hither That laid first _In principio_ together.