“Gravis sors et dura! Hic reliqui plura, sed sub mala cura; Des! quel domage! qui pert la sue chose, purque n’enrage?” The rime scheme of which may be reproduced something like this: Hard luck and sad! I left all I had, But the care was bad. Gad, what a shame! If I am mad, I’m not to blame. Two stanzas with the same refrain follow. Then Barbarus turns to the image and lays on it the blame in two additional stanzas with the threatening French refrain: “Ha! Nicholax, se ne me rent ma chose, tu ol comparras.” (If you don’t give me back my things, I’ll make you pay for it.) Barbarus then takes up a whip and vents his feelings in two additional stanzas of the same sort, the form and spirit of which Professor Gayley has admirably caught in English[72]: By God, I swear to you Unless you “cough up” true, You thief, I’ll beat you blue, I will, no fear! So hand me back my stuff that I put here! The amount of whipping and other stage “business” to accompany this recitative might safely be trusted to choir boy impromptu. The Latin text of the play at this point gives the following simple directions: “Then St. Nicholas shall go to the thieves and say to them:” In four Latin stanzas he tells the thieves that he has been whipped because he cannot restore the things left in his charge, and threatens: “Quod si non feceritis suspensi eras eritis crucis in patibulo; vestra namque turpia, vestra latrocinia, nuntiabo populo.” (If you don’t do this, you will be hanged to-morrow on a gibbet, for your misdeeds and thievery, I will proclaim abroad.) The threats have the desired effect on the thieves, who in fear return the goods, with no accompanying words provided by the playwright. When Barbarus finds his treasures again, in a series of three macaronic stanzas, Latin and French, he expresses his joy and surprise, ending with praise for the guardian: “Quam bona custodia jo en ai; qua redduntur omnia! De si grant mervegle en ai.” (What a good watch I have had! it returns everything. I am quite surprised.) The alternating lines in French form a refrain in which, as in the other songs, the other choir boys have a chance to join. Then Barbarus approaches the image and in three like stanzas, Latin and French, expresses his gratitude. At this point St. Nicholas in person makes his appearance. He disclaims any credit to himself, and bids Barbarus praise God alone, through Whom his things have been restored. Barbarus in reply renounces heathen faith and praises God, the maker of heaven and earth and sea, Who has forgiven his sin.