“No,” returned a neighbour; “I hear they are both borrowed from Chester, because they are better than our own pageants.” “’Tis very fitting that Noah’s ark should be performed by the Shipwrights and Mariners!” said Master Gyseburn. “If they don’t understand seafaring business, who should?” “Here it comes!” shouted Colin, and every one gazed eagerly at the approaching pageant, which was drawn by the Shipwrights’ apprentices. V Noah’s Ark It paused, as usual, just beneath Master Harpham’s window. “Why, there’s no ark!” exclaimed Margery, in a disappointed tone. “Wait a bit!” Colin warned her. “It’s behind those curtains at the back, I expect. Noah has first to be told to build it, you see.” Colin was right, for the play began with God’s announcement to Noah that the Deluge was approaching, and His command that a ship should be built. Then Noah, a venerable old man with a long white beard, praised God for the warning, and spoke as follows: “O Lorde, I thank Thee lowde and still, That to me arte in suche will, And spares me and my howse to spill, As I now southly [truly] fynde. Thy byddinge, Lorde, I shall fulfill, And never more Thee greve nor grill [provoke] That such grace hath sent me till, Amongst all mankinde.” Noah’s sons and their wives now entered, and the old man turned to them and told them of the flood that was coming: “Have done, you men and women all, Hye you, lest this watter fall To worche [work] this shippe chamber and hall As God hath bidden us doe,” he said. For the first time now, Noah’s wife came in, and her appearance was greeted by a roar of laughter from the crowd in the market-place and at the windows. The people understood that she was meant to be a very bad-tempered lady, and both her dress and her face were meant to make them laugh. The part was of course acted by a man (no woman ever acted in those days), and the player was a good actor whom every one knew. At first the wife did not speak, though all the time her behaviour was amusing. Meanwhile the sons declared themselves ready to help with the ark. “Father” (said Shem), “I am already bowne [prepared], An axe I have, by my croune! As sharp as any in all this toun For to go thereto.” Then Ham spoke: “I have a hatchet, wonder keen To bite well, as may be seen, A better ground one, as I ween, Is not in all this toun.” Japhet also intended to do his best: “And I can well make a pin, And with this hammer knock it in, Go and work without more din, And I am ready bowne [prepared].” But Noah’s wife at once showed by her grumbling speech that she was obstinate, and did not intend to do much work: “And we shall bring timber too, For women nothing else to do; Women be weak to undergo Any great travail,” she declared.