By way of excuse for his grumblings he adds in conclusion, It dos me good, as I walk thus by myn oone, Of this warld for to talk in maner of mone. The second shepherd, who enters next, has other grounds for discontent. He, poor man, has a vixen for a wife. As sharp as thystille, as rugh as a brere, She is browyd lyke a brystylle, with a sowre loten chere; Had she oones well hyr whystyll she couth syng fulle clere Hyr pater noster. She is as greatt as a whalle She has a galon of galle. Conversation opens between the two, but rapidly comes to a dispute. Fortunately the timely arrival of a third shepherd dissipates the cloud, and they are quite ready to hear his complaints--this time of wide-spreading floods--coupled with further reflections on the hard conditions of a shepherd's lot. By this time the circle is complete, and a good supper and song are produced to ratify the general harmony. But now enters the element of discord which forms the pivot of the second scene. Mak, a boorish fellow shrewdly suspected of sheep stealing, joins them, and, after some chaffing, is allowed to share their grassy bed. In the night he rises, picks out the finest ram from the flock, drives it home, and hides it in the cradle. He then returns to his place between two of the shepherds. As he foresaw, morning brings discovery, suspicion and search. The three shepherds proceed to Mak's home, only to be confronted with the well concocted story that his wife, having just become the mother of a sturdy son, must on no account be disturbed. On this point apparently a compromise is effected, the search to be executed on tip-toe, for the shepherds do somewhat poke and pry about, yet under so sharp a fire of abuse as to render them nervous of pressing their investigations too closely. Thus they pass the cradle by, and all would have gone well with Mak but for that same warm-heartedness of which we spoke earlier. They are already out of the house when a true Christmas thought flashes into the mind of one of them. _1st Shepherd._ Gaf ye the chyld any thyng? _2nd Shepherd._ I trow not oone farthyng. _3rd Shepherd._ Fast agayne wille I flyng, Abyde ye me there. [_He returns to the house, the others following._] Mak, take it no grefe if I com to thi barne. _Mak._ Nay, thou dos me greatt reprefe, and fowlle has thou farne.[32] _3rd Shepherd._ The child wille it not grefe, that lytylle day starne[33]? Mak, with youre leyfe, let me gyf youre barne Bot vj pence. _Mak._ Nay, do way: he slepys. _3rd Shepherd._ Me thynk he pepys. _Mak._ When he wakyns he wepys. I pray you go hence.