Hardly could Shimei, through the mask he wore Of feigned simplicity, help leering out, Confessed the mocker that he ever was, In that sardonic grin, as he replied: "Pretense, of whatso sort, be far from me-- Save when my betters wish it of me; then, I think it right to put my conscience by; Or rather place it at their service--that, The dearest thing the poor good man can claim! I reason in this way, 'Why should I presume To scruple, where those wiser far than I Are clear?' That sure would be the worst pretense-- Pretending to be holier than the saints. My will, thou seest, is tractable enough; But how, with thee, to feel sufficient ease To do what thou desirest, go right on And talk and chatter as we simple did! "First, then, perhaps I said: 'This is dull work'-- And no offense to thee, sir, that I said it-- 'Dull work,' said I, 'to stand, or pace, and watch, Long hours alone, and nothing like to happen That makes it needful thou shouldst thus keep watch!' 'Aye,' grunted he; I thought him stupid like, But I had something I could tell him then That might rub up his wits and brighten them. 'There is a plot,' said I. 'Aye, plots enough,' Said he. 'And something thou shouldst know,' I said. 'I doubt,' said he; and added: 'Soldiers should Know nothing but their duty, how to watch, March, dig, fight, slay, be slain, and no word speak. Thou hadst better go,' said he, like that, more frank Than courteous, thou mightst think--he meant no harm, But only like a loyal soldier spoke. I did not go, but said: 'The plot I mean Is of escape from prison.' But he replied: 'Nobody can escape these times from prison; The emperor has a hundred million eyes, That never wink, because they have no lids, And never sleep, because they never tire, And these run everywhere and all things see; The emperor's arms are many, long and strong, East, west, north, south, they range throughout the world. Oh, he can reach thee wheresoever hiding, And pluck thee thence and fetch thee safely home; The world is all his prison, the emperor's.' 'Thou thinkest that?' said I. 'No doubt,' said he. 'But captives still,' said I, 'might try to escape?' 'Oh, aye,' said he, 'that is quite natural.' 'And should they try,' I said, 'with thee on watch, And should they somehow skill to get by thee, Then--and although they be thereafter caught-- How fares it then with thee?' said I to him-- 'Yea, how with thee that lettest them go by?' 'Then there would be,' he said, 'account to give, And I should wish I had not been on watch.' 'Nay, better wish, man, thou hadst better watched,' Said I, 'and thyself caught the fugitive.' 'Aye, that were something better yet,' said he. 'Why, yea,' said I, 'that, laid to thy account,